Attorney General Becerra Joins Union City Police Department, Alameda County DA to Announce Arrest of Two Suspects Charged with the Double Murder of Two Juveniles

UNION CITY – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Union City Police Chief Jared Rinetti, Union City Mayor Carol Dutra-Vernaci, and Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley today announced the arrest of two suspects, 18-year-old Jason Cornejo from Castro Valley and a 17-year-old juvenile from Hayward, charged with the homicide of two children. The arrests are the result of an enforcement action targeting alleged gang members in Union City and Hayward.

The joint operation conducted on February 6, 2020, involved the Union City Police Department, Hayward Police Department, Alameda County Sheriff's Department, the California Highway Patrol, and the California Department of Justice’s Special Operations Unit. The Alameda District Attorney’s Office will be in charge of the prosecution. The operation targeted criminal activities believed to have been perpetrated by a Hayward gang involved in a violent gang war with a rival gang in the area since 2005. The rivalry between the street gangs resulted in several gang-related homicides and shootings, including a November 2019 shooting near an elementary school that resulted in the homicide of two juveniles. As a result of the operation, two suspects were charged with murder of the two children. 

“Senseless gun violence far too often robs our families of the most precious thing on earth, our children,” said Attorney General Becerra. “Investigating, prosecuting and punishing those responsible won’t undo the crime, but it is the closest measure of justice we can exact short of preventing it. We are indebted to the professionals in our operations who do the job that makes today’s announcement possible.”

“Union City's top priority was to solve this case and bring justice to the family of the victims,” said Union City Mayor Dutra-Vernaci. “The Union City Police Department engaged the State Attorney General's Office, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office and several neighboring police departments for assistance. Because of the teamwork, the criminals were apprehended and the streets are safer."

"My heart goes out to the families of the victims,” said Union City Police Chief Rinetti. “These were children who were murdered, and even though we cannot change the past or reverse this tragedy, I am relieved that we were able to control the outcome of this investigation with the arrest and charging of a dangerous gang members. We also know how important it is to bring closure to the families and community." 

“The brutal murder of these two young children shocks us to our core and the district attorney’s office is determined to bring defendants to justice for their crimes. Gun violence and gang violence devastate neighborhoods and communities,” said Alameda County District Attorney O’Malley.  “As an office, we are committed to doing all we can to work not only with law enforcement but also with neighborhood groups, schools, churches, temples, and local governments to put an end to the violence.”

Attorney General Becerra’s Special Operations Unit is a collaborative investigative effort between the California Department of Justice and the California Highway Patrol that provides statewide enforcement for combating violent career criminals, gangs, and organized crime groups, along with intrastate drug traffickers. These unique and essential teams use the latest technology and advanced investigative techniques and work alongside local law enforcement to enhance investigations into violent criminals and organized crime throughout the state.

Under Attorney General Becerra’s leadership, the California Department of Justice has made a tenacious effort to work with local law enforcement agencies throughout California to target gang activity, making hundreds of arrests related to gang activity. Those collaborative actions include:

• In May 2017, an operation targeting the Sureño criminal street gang subsets and their criminal enterprise directed by the Mexican Mafia prison gang in Merced County;
• In June 2017, an operation resulting in the arrest of individuals, including validated gang members belonging to the Sureño gang, one of the most violent gangs in San Bernardino County;
• In November 2017, an operation taking down gang members from the Mexican mafia and members of a Mexican drug cartel in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange Counties;
• In December 2017, an operation resulting in the arrest of individuals, including members of the MOB, Flyboys, East Coast Crips, Conway Gangsters, Sierra Vista Project and Glock Team gangs in Stockton;
• In August 2018, an operation targeting the MS-13 criminal street gang operating in the Central Valley and several states across the U.S.;
• In October 2018, an operation to dismantle the largest criminal street gang in Riverside County;
• In June 2019, an operation targeting Norteño street gangs engaged in criminal activity in Kings and Tulare Counties;
• In July 2019, an operation as part of an effort to dismantle alleged Norteño street gang activity in Stanislaus County;
• In November 2019, an operation as part of the takedown targeting the Norteño street gang in Stockton;
• In December 2019, an operation targeting the criminal activities of the Country Boy Crips street gang, located in south Bakersfield; and 
• In January 2020, an operation targeting criminal activities by the Casa Blanca Gangster Crips in Riverside.

It is important to note that a criminal complaint contains charges that are only allegations against a person. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

More information about the case can be found here.