Rival sureño and norteño gangs at war

The fight escalated when several members of both gangs became involved, Rodriguez said.Before the police arrived the suspected sureño gang members left the scene in a white four-door vehicle, a police report stated.One of the vehicle’s occupants was overheard telling another occupant to shoot somebody, the report stated. A police officer stationed in the area spotted the vehicle as it drove past him and the vehicle was stopped and all five occupants were detained, the report stated. Officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded 12-gauge shotgun with a serial number that had been painted over and a small amount of marijuana, the report stated. Max Martinez, 18, plus two 15-year-olds and two 17-year-olds, were arrested on suspicion of participation in a criminal street gang, possession of a loaded firearm with an altered serial number, transportation of marijuana and conspiracy.
The group of suspected norteño gang members had fled the scene of the fight by the time officers had finished with the traffic stop and returned to the 1700 block of Mulberry, Rodriguez said.