HAYWARD — Two men have been arrested and charged with several felonies for allegedly attacking and threatening a 17-year-old boy who resisted their attempts to recruit him into a subset of the Norteños, court records show.
The defendants, both Hayward residents aged 41 and 26, were charged with making criminal threats, illegal gun possession and dissuading a witness, along with enhancements alleging the use of violence and being armed during the commission of the crime. They were also charged with gang activity but a judge dismissed those counts at a July 13 preliminary hearing, court records show.
Police allege that on the evening of June 7, the teen was walking on Havana Avenue when three known Norteño members approached him and told him he was going to join their gang. One of them allegedly told him he could say no if he wanted to, but then changed his mind and told the boy he didn’t have a choice.
The suspects are affiliated with a subset of the Norteños known as “Don’t Give a F—” or DGF, which is based in Hayward, police say.
When the boy resisted, one of the suspects allegedly struck him in the face and another pulled a gun. One of them allegedly threatened to murder an eyewitness’ family if she reported the incident to police.
Multiple eyewitnesses identified the two men who were charged, according to court records. The third suspect has not been charged.
The 41-year-old man is being held in lieu of $450,000 bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, while the 26-year-old man is out of custody, according to court records.
Source: www.mercurynews.com