Teens arrested for fatal drive-by shooting may be tried as adults; judge pushes hearing back

Two juveniles accused in the fatal drive-by shooting of an Olivehurst man last week will return to court in June to determine if they will be tried as adults.

The teenagers – a 17-year-old boy from Olivehurst and a 16-yearold boy from Marysville – appeared in court Tuesday. Yuba County Superior Court Judge Benjamin Wirtschafter pushed the hearing back to allow the probation department enough time to investigate the case and make a recommendation as to whether they should be tried in juvenile court or adult court.

The juveniles were arrested and charged with murder and participating in a criminal street gang, as well as several sentence enhancements for street terrorism, discharging a firearm and causing great bodily injury.

The charges stem from the shooting that occurred around 6:45 p.m. April 26 in Olivehurst, in which a 24-year-old man – Jose Zuniga-juache – was shot down while riding his bicycle in the 1800 block of Sixth Avenue. Zunigajuache was found lying in the street by deputies, who attempted CPR. He was transferred to Rideout Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Witnesses gave police a description of the vehicle and its occupants right after the shooting. A Marysville Police officer spotted a car matching the description a short time later and attempted a stop. The driver of the vehicle led the officer on a short pursuit but eventually stopped on North Levee Road in Marysville.

Two adults – Christopher Garcia, 23, of Yuba City and Alex Ruiz, 18, of Marysville – who were in the vehicle – were also arrested by police on similar charges to the juveniles.

Garcia and Ruiz appeared for arraignment in Yuba County Superior Court on Monday, and both pleading not guilty. They will return to court on May 23.

The juveniles will return to the Yuba County Superior Court June 6 at 9 a.m.