Santa Cruz security officer injured during struggle with armed man
SANTA CRUZ, CA March 30 2019— Two 21-year-old San Jose men were arrested Tuesday after one of them accidentally shot himself in the leg near Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, police reported Wednesday. The shooting happened in the 100 block of Park Place, where police responded around 9 p.m. and found multiple shell casings.
Carlos Gascali-Zarraga was allegedly found hiding in the back of a parked car on Beach Street with a gunshot wound to his leg. Gascali-Zarraga was treated and officers allegedly found a holster inside his pants, in addition to gunpowder burns on his thigh and calf injuries.
Police said Gascali-Zarraga was uncooperative and denied knowing what happened, but officers believe he shot himself in the leg. Security cameras in the area also apparently captured Gascali-Zarraga shooting a pistol, and he was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon and discharging a firearm in a negligent manner.
Izaiah Arostigui-Hernandez was detained by police in the area of the shooting and struggled with officers during the arrest, police said. According to police, a security guard fell to the ground during the struggle and punctured his leg on a concealed, but open dagger in Hernandez’s pants pocket.
Arostigui-Hernandez was arrested on suspicion of giving false identification to a peace officer and possession of a concealed dagger. Gascali-Zarraga was the only person injured by gunfire, according to police. Anyone with further information is asked to call police at (831)
