Jose Monroy Casillas Arrested As Suspect in Friday Night Gang Shooting

29-year-old Half Moon Bay resident Jose Monroy Casillas was arrested last night as a suspect in a gang-related shooting that took place Friday night in Half Moon Bay, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.

It was the second gang shooting incident in Half Moon Bay to take place within two months. The in the city's Arleta Park neighborhood at First Avenue and Grove Street.

According to the Sheriff's Office, Friday night's shooting took place in the 400 block of Willow Avenue, where Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the scene at approximately 8:58 p.m.

At that time, deputies encountered a Hispanic male who had been shot in the torso.

CalFire paramedics treated the victim on the scene. He was subsequently taken by ambulance to Stanford Hospital. The victim's injuries were not deemed to be life-threatening, the Sheriff's Office said.

Casillas, identified by authorities as a member of the Sureños street gang, was one of the victims in the August Half Moon Bay gang-related shooting. While another Sureños gang member was shot in the chest, Monroy was shot in the foot during that incident.

The suspect was seen leaving Friday night's shooting scene on a bicycle, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Later, the Sheriff's Office said, Casillas was captured in the 400 block of Cypress Avenue in Half Moon Bay by Sheriff's deputies, booked into San Mateo County jail, and charged with suspicion of attempted murder with a gang enhancement.

The victim and shooter are known to one another, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The Sheriff's Office has no other suspects in this incident at this time.

One Half Moon Bay resident who wished to remain anonymous reported to Half Moon Bay Patch that he and his wife saw a "very large presence of unmarked and possible gang enforcement teams all over downtown Half Moon Bay" earlier in the day on Friday.

"It seemed as if they were almost looking for something that was expected to happen," the source said. "It was very spooky."

Anyone who has information about this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Hector Acosta at (650) 363-4064 or the Sheriff’s Office Anonymous Witness Line at 800-547-2700. 

Half Moon Bay Patch is continuing to monitor the situation and will post more information as it becomes available.

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