From left: Alex-Lopezramirez, Brian-Ramirezlopez and Miguel-Angel-Mendez, have been bound over for trial in the alleged brutal beating of a rival gang member in the middle of a Downtown San Luis Obispo street. Submitted photos
Three alleged gang members from Santa Maria will stand trial for the brutal beating of a rival gang member on a Downtown San Luis Obispo street, the District Attorney’s Office announced.
Following a preliminary hearing for the three, District Attorney Dan Dow’s office said Judge Michael Duffy held over for trial Alex LopezRamirez, Miguel Mendez, and Brian RamirezLopez in connection with the October 2024 attack.
“On Oct. 6, 2024,” reads the news release, “the three defendants were involved in a group assault in Downtown San Luis Obispo near Hotel Cerro.” The hotel, one of the new hotel developments in Downtown SLO, is located at 1125 Garden St.
In the hearing, the prosecutor, Dep. D.A. Cameron Simoes, presented evidence that “the defendants acting as a group repeatedly stomped, kicked, and punched the victim in the middle of the road. As the victim lay motionless and unconscious in the street, the group continued to stomp and kick him in the face.”
The victim, who was identified as “a member of a rival Santa Maria criminal street gang,” suffered severe injuries and was rushed to a hospital. The evidence included surveillance video of the very public beat down.
“The assault was captured on video, and additional recordings of the defendants made after the assault were also part of the evidence.”
Police identified the three assailants as members of another Santa Maria street gang.
Judge Duffy saw enough evidence to hold the trio over for trial on suspicion of “Assault by Means Likely to Produce Great Bodily Injury,” the release said, “along with the additional allegations that each personally inflicted great bodily injury and that the crime was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang.”
D.A. Dow said this kind of violence won’t be tolerated here. “Gang violence has no place in San Luis Obispo County. This was a brutal group attack that continued even after the victim was unconscious and defenseless in the middle of a public street.
“Our community is safer when those who bring this kind of violence here are held fully accountable, and this office will continue to pursue that accountability alongside our law enforcement partners.”
San Luis Obispo Police investigated the crime along with the D.A.’s Bureau of Investigation. Victim Witness services have been provided by Victim Advocate, Dona Reed, and Witness Coordinator, Kellie Navarro.
Even though the three have been identified as gang members who allegedly committed a brutally violent crime, all three are currently out on bail. Their next hearing is set for Sept. 17.
