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Four indicted for gun battle in East Palo Alto park

2 mins read

Four men who allegedly had a gun battle in front of children in an East Palo Alto park were indicted by a San Mateo County grand jury this week. 

On May 17, 2022, dozens of children were playing in Jack Farrel Park when 33 shots were fired. 

According to Police Chief Jeff Liu, children ran for their lives and screamed for their parents. 

Five adults were shot and one man, Ralph Fields Jr., 34, died. 

The suspects’ identities were released for the first time on Wednesday. 

The grand jury indicted Miguel Bracamontes, 21, of East Palo Alto; Bobby Williams, 49, of San Francisco; Luis Mariscal, 38, of East Palo Alto; and Michael Tyrone Darrell McNack, 20, of Union City, for numerous charges, including assault with a firearm, as well as discharge of a firearm with gross negligence.

The East Palo Alto Police Department wrote, “Witness statements obtained through investigations, Grand Jury proceedings, and forensic evidence identified Bracamontes, Williams, Mariscal, and McNack as the four suspects who discharged firearms at Jack Farrell Park. The gunfight resulted in the death of Ralph Fields, shooting injuries to four adult males, and numerous children traumatized by being forced to experience the gunfight in a public park while the children were playing.”

When the indictment was filed on August 4, three of the four men were already in jail for separate charges. 

The fourth suspect, McNack, was arrested at his home in Union City on Tuesday. McNack was booked into the San Mateo County Jail.

Bracamontes, Williams, Mariscal, and McNack were scheduled to appear in a Redwood City courtroom Wednesday for arraignment. They are all currently in custody with no bail.

Charlene

Charlene is a Bay Area journalist who hails from the small community of Fresno. Drawing from her experience writing for her college paper, Charlene continues to advocate for free press and local journalism. She also volunteers in all the beach cleanups she can because she loves the water.