Three defendants charged with murder
OAKLAND, CA —Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Y. Price announces three murder charges were filed today against three defendants responsible for the death of five-year-old Eliyanah Crisostomo.
Eliyanah and her family were on their way to a family dinner, driving along Interstate 880 between Fremont and Milpitas April 8 around 6:40 p.m. when she was struck by gunfire, and killed. Eliyanah was riding in the third-row seat, next to her brother, when the bullet pierced through her heart.
“My heart goes out to Eliyanah’s family. There is no reason young children should die on our Bay Area freeways,” said DA Price. “This behavior is absolutely unacceptable. We will not stand for gun violence and these three defendants will be held accountable for their despicable actions.”
Defendants Humberto Anaya, Kristo Ayala Valderrama and Emmanuel Sarango were each charged with one count of Penal Code 187, murder, for her death. They were additionally charged with seven counts each of Penal Code 246, shooting at an occupied vehicle. The suspects were driving a red Honda Accord that was later located in Santa Cruz, where the defendants were caught and arrested.
The defendants, three Fremont Sureño gang members, fired into the car Eliyanah was riding in with her family, believing it was a rival gang car. They flashed gang symbols and purposefully fired within their intended target, the car filled with Eliyanah and five other people.
All three defendants were also involved in an assault earlier that day in Fremont and were charged with three counts each: PC 245 (b) felony assault with a semiautomatic firearm. Both Ayala and Anaya were additionally charged with PC 25400(a)(1) felony carrying a concealed firearm within a vehicle, and PC 25850(a) felony carrying a loaded firearm on one’s person in a city.
About 15 minutes before the murder, Fremont Police responded to a call on the 37000 block of Fremont Boulevard for a report of a shooting. The victim was walking on Fremont Boulevard when the suspect vehicle, a red Honda Accord, drove by. One of the occupants commented about the red clothing the victim was wearing. Two suspects exited the car, and one shot at the victim as he ran away; the victim was not injured.
“We want to thank the California Highway Patrol, Fremont Police and Santa Cruz Police for their great work in investigating this case, and finding and apprehending these three suspects,” said DA Price.
The three defendants are expected to be arraigned on the amended complaint on Friday April 14, at the East County Hall of Justice.
The Office will not be making any further comments in order not to compromise the case.
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Contact: Public Information Officer Angela Ruggiero angela.ruggiero@acgov.org // (510) 919-0081