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Galt Police Chief Loren Cattolico answers questions on Sunday about the double-murder that took place late Saturday night at the Estrellita Ballroom on C Street. (Ross Farrow/News-Sentinel)
Police identify two victims shot to death at Galt party Saturday night
Two people were shot to death late Saturday night during a family celebration at the Estrellita Ballroom, 415 C St., according to Galt police.
Investigators were busy Sunday looking for the murder suspect, Alfredo Daniel Tafoya, 18, whose last-known address was in South Sacramento, Galt Police Chief Loren Cattolico said at a press conference Sunday afternoon.
Alfredo Daniel Tafoya
The victims were identified as Efrain Zambrano, 20, of rural Galt, and Carlos Alonso Montes, 24, whose last known address was La Puente, Cattolico said.
The shooting, reported at 11:06 p.m. Saturday, took place after a brief argument, pushing and shoving at a quinceañera in honor of a teenage girl, Cattolico said. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene, he said. The suspect then walked from the ballroom.
The shooting took place in an open area of the ballroom near a serving area, Cattolico said.
"From witness testimony, it was a miracle no one else was hit," he added.
No other gunshots were fired, and no one else was injured, Lt. Ken Erickson said in an e-mail.
Tafoya was described as 5 feet 10 inches tall with brown eyes and black hair.
"He should be considered armed and dangerous," Cattolico said.
The entrance to the Estrellita Ballroom, located on C Street between Fourth and Fifth streets. (Ross Farrow/News-Sentinel)
Tafoya may not have been directly invited to the quinceañera, but he was allowed to enter the ballroom. Tafoya is a gang member, possibly a Sureno, but there is no evidence that the victims belong to a gang, Cattolico said.
The chief said he didn't know how many people were at the party, but many people had left by the time officers arrived.
A warrant has been obtained for Tafoya's arrest. Anyone with information on his whereabouts may call Galt police at (209) 366-7000 or the Crime Stoppers number, 1-888-393-8477. Those who call Crime Stoppers may give information anonymously, Cattolico said.
For more on this story, return to lodinews.com and see Monday's News-Sentinel.
Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.
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Acampo wrote on Nov 30, 2009 9:33 PM:
edumacation wrote on Nov 30, 2009 11:32 AM:
edumacation wrote on Nov 30, 2009 11:27 AM:
Also, if we wanted to have the system pay fr itself we could have publicly televised executions. TV viewers always want "action", so if we put the executions on "Pay Per View" that income would quickly pay for itself and possibly pay for incarceration expenses as well? I think lot of viewers would pay $20 to watch their favorite gangbanger in fear. No tranquilizers would be allowed. They didn't give that consideration to those they murdered. Lets start the conversation, and see what we learn? "
jimp wrote on Nov 30, 2009 7:53 AM:
95242 wrote on Nov 30, 2009 1:34 AM:
No, I don't think so! That would make us worse than them!! "
edumacation wrote on Nov 29, 2009 6:29 PM:
So do we have some parity here? Many of us don't care, how they suffer when they get the death penalty via judicial homicide. To give them something to think about, we need to bring back something less painless--like the rack, draw and quartering might instill some fear. But they have no fear of a needle
and sleepy bye bye. That is NOT a deterrent! "
edumacation wrote on Nov 29, 2009 6:20 PM:
Your remark about "hatred" was not missed.
I am a certified "non-hater" and "non-racist" by some of the most progressive-liberals who posts on these boards. I don't hate because of one reason- I DON'T CARE! I don't like paying high taxes to clean up these punks.
Call me an "anti-taxist"!
Many punks aren't supposed to be here---so perps are double punks.
Now "racism"--(implied by your post)---It's NOT possible for me to be a racist, because I DO NOT BELIEVE there is such a thing as race among humans. "Race" is a biological definition. I also have no problem with what a person THINKS. "
newbie wrote on Nov 29, 2009 5:23 PM:
I'm with you 100%.
So all you "progressive" and "liberal" non-haters out there, is there anything other than closing the border that you would like to suggest we do about this?
This IS NOT a crime issue, it's cultural issue.
And like you Ed as soon as I saw the headlines I didn't need to read the story. Gee, a hispanic punk kid with a gun who thinks he's muchismo and is being "dissed" starts shooting. Go figure, didn't see that one coming. "
edumacation wrote on Nov 29, 2009 5:03 PM:
Very telling---criminals are easy to figure out--- Stupid, lazy, puny self-esteem issues. Most likely the perps were SHORT and had minimal facial hair, and maybe some tattoos? It is still okay to talk about "short men" ---as long as they aren't REALLY short. And the inked wonders parading around. We know who fits that category? "
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