The Willow Glen Resident

Police nab suspects in stabbing of WG teenager

Two arrests made, third sought for Oscar Perez killing

By Christine Frey

Police arrested two men June 27 on charges of killing 14-year-old Oscar Perez Jr., San Jose Police spokesperson Louis Quezada said.

Gregorio Perez Martinez, 19, and Saul Hernandez Martinez, 21, of San Jose were arrested at the Santa Clara County Jail, where they were both already in custody on charges stemming from an auto burglary unconnected to the Perez murder. The two men are not related to each other.

Investigators believe the suspects stabbed Oscar Perez because they mistook him for a rival gang member, Quezada said.

They are in custody without bail and are scheduled to enter pleas July 9 in Santa Clara County Municipal Court.

Police are still looking for a third suspect, 20-year-old Martin Hernandez Martinez, said SJPD spokesperson John Carrillo. According to court documents, Martin Hernandez Martinez is the brother of Saul Hernandez Martinez. A no-bail warrant was issued on July 1 for his arrest.

Martin Hernandez Martinez is 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighs 120 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.

The murder occurred on June 13 when Perez and his girlfriend were walking westbound on Willow Street at 5:40 p.m. A group of five to eight Hispanic males and females in their late teens or early 20s, who were driving by in a small white vehicle, began yelling at Perez and his girlfriend. The group in the vehicle chased and caught Perez at Willow Street and Settle Avenue, where they stabbed him to death.

Both of the suspects in custody have criminal records. It is unknown at this time if Martin Hernandez Martinez has a criminal history.

Gregorio Perez Martinez was found guilty of second-degree burglary in February, said district attorney Karyn Sinunu. According to court documents, at the time of his arrest for Perez's murder, he was awaiting trial on additional charges of second-degree burglary and vandalism stemming from a June 15 incident.

Saul Hernandez Martinez was convicted of two counts of assault with a deadly weapon last year and sentenced to jail time and three years' probation, said Mike Gaffey, gang unit deputy district attorney. The assault, which happened in January 1997, was gang-related and was perpetrated in a manner similar to the Oscar Perez murder. According to court documents, Saul Martinez and several accomplices, who were also arrested, attacked three teenagers who were walking to their father's house, leaving one victim with a knife wound to his head.

Saul Martinez has three additional charges on his record, including the June 15 auto burglary, which had him in jail at the time of his homicide arrest, said Jim Hammer, deputy district attorney for the gang unit.

Anyone with information regarding Perez's murder should call detectives Ernie Alcantar or Pete Ramirez at 277-5283. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 947-STOP.

[ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ]