East Palo Alto Man Found Guilty For Shooting YMCA Coach In 2013

An East Palo Alto man was found guilty Monday of shooting and injuring a YMCA wellness coach as he was walking home from work in 2013, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Ernesto Dominguez Cuellar, 35, was convicted by a jury in Redwood City of premeditated attempted murder and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, including enhancements for using a gun, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

Cuellar faces a term of 32 years to life in prison when he’s sentenced on April 5.

Prosecutors said Cuellar approached the 22-year-old YMCA coach on a skateboard as the victim arrived at the gate of his home in the 600 block of Bell Street in East Palo Alto at about 3 p.m. on July 24, 2013.

Cuellar, who was a member of the YMCA, fired five times at the victim, striking him twice.

He fled on the skateboard but was spotted by the victim’s father and grandfather, who were in the garage at the time of the shooting.

Police arrested Cuellar later that day in the 1500 block of Ursula Way. He was identified as the suspect by the victim’s father and grandfather and investigators found a .38-caliber handgun and ammunition at his home, prosecutors said.

Cuellar denied any involvement in the shooting.

The victim was hospitalized and spent the next eight months recovering from the gunshot wounds, prosecutors said.

Also see:

• Campbell PD Nabs Woman Who Allegedly Stole Cop Car, Dragged Officer
• Stanford Selects Award-Winning Filmmaker As 2016 Commencement Speaker

--Bay City News/Shutterstock image