2 East Bay men plead not guilty to murder charge

Gang members were out of custody on unrelated felony cases

SAN MATEO — Two East Bay gang members charged with murdering a rival gang member in San Mateo and leading officers on a high-speed chase into San Francisco pleaded not guilty Wednesday afternoon, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors contend that Norteno gang members Alejandro Deleon, 22, of San Leandro, and Louis Mercado, 20, of Hayward, gunned down Sureno gang member Daniel Corono, 31, of San Mateo, in the parking lot of a PetSmart at 3520 El Camino Real on Sept. 6.

Deleon and Mercado were both out of custody on unrelated felony cases at the time, according to prosecutors.

San Mateo officers spotted Deleon and Mercado leaving the area in a car and tried to stop them. Prosecutors said the suspects instead got on northbound Highway 101 and led San Mateo and California Highway Patrol officers on a pursuit reaching speeds up to 90 mph.

Deleon and Mercado tossed items from their car during the chase, including the semi-automatic handgun used to kill Corono, according to prosecutors.

Police eventually arrested Deleon and Mercado at Octavia and Market streets in San Francisco.

Deleon and Mercado remain in custody on no-bail status. District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said they are slated to return to San Mateo County Superior Court for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 28.