Redwood City Accused of Gang Shooting Appears in Court

By Bay City News 

A Redwood City man charged with shooting a man who prosecutors said is a former gang member last month, made an appearance in San Mateo County Superior court Thursday.

Ivan Tapia, 24, did not enter a plea and requested time to retain counsel, according to prosecutors. He is facing a potential sentence of life in prison for the May 8th shooting, prosecutors said.

At 7:43 p.m., Tapia drove his vehicle next to another car stopped at the intersection of Woodside Road and Veterans Boulevard, prosecutors said.

Tapia took out a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun and opened fire at the victim, who was sitting in the rear passenger seat, prosecutors said.

Tapia fired at least six rounds at the victim, striking him four times in the waist area, before speeding off, according to prosecutors.

The driver then drove the victim to Stanford Hospital and left him at the emergency room before leaving the hospital, prosecutors said. He required surgery to remove some of the bullets.

The driver and another passenger refused to cooperate with police, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said the victim eventually admitted to police that he had dropped out of a gang called the Mid Menlo Norteno Gang and said he knew the identity of the shooter.

Police suspected the motive for the shooting to be retaliation after the victim dropped out of their gang, prosecutors said.

On June 2, police arrested Tapia in Oakland and found a .40 caliber handgun at his residence, according to prosecutors.

Tapia remains in custody on a no-bail status.His case was continued to June 9, prosecutors said.