Murder victim ID’d as San Mateo man: Suspects in homicide behind bars

Deleon, a 22-year-old transient, and Luis Mercado, a 20-year-old Hayward resident, were booked in San Mateo County jail without bail and charged with numerous felonies for the Sept. 7 crime, according to police.

But the motive behind the city’s first homicide in 2016 remains unclear, and police Sgt. Rick Decker said the case remains active.

“Detectives are currently following up on one witness that may have heard or seen some kind of altercation beforehand. We still think it’s an isolated incident and they’re all known to each other. One of the things we’re trying to determine is if it’s gang related in any way,” Decker said.

Police were first called shortly before 7 p.m. after multiple witnesses reported hearing gunshots. They arrived to a parking lot behind the Chase Bank and PetSmart at 36th Avenue and Colgrove Street to find Corona suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, Decker said.

Despite lifesaving measures, Corona died at the scene.

Decker credited reports from witnesses who heard gunshots and saw a silver Volvo seen fleeing the scene as key to enabling police to quickly apprehend Deleon and Mercado. The duo was initially spotted a few blocks away on Hillsdale Boulevard, Decker said.

Mercado, who was allegedly driving the car, fled from police and California Highway Patrol officers. The high-speed chase along Interstate 280 and Highway 101 ended near Market Street and Octavia Boulevard in San Francisco. Mercado and Deleon were taken into custody without further incident.

“We’re just grateful that the community was willing to get involved and we got a lot of phone calls when it happened. That enabled us to get there pretty quickly and that in turn allowed us to locate the suspects within a mile of the crime scene,” Decker said.

Mercado and Deleon are currently believed to be the only suspects involved in the murder, but Decker said police are still interested in hearing from any potential witnesses.

Both were arrested for felony homicide, an enhancement charge for using a gun, conspiracy and possession of the weapon. Mercado was also charged with felony evading arrest.

Wednesday’s murder was the first San Mateo has experienced this year. The most recent was the Nov. 28, 2015, domestic violence case when Anthony Kirincic allegedly slashed to death his girlfriend Colleen Straw, who had a restraining order against him at the time.

Decker said he believed the last shooting homicide occurred in 2013 when a Lodi Street resident was victim to a home invasion robbery and subsequently shot three of the burglars. One died at the scene while the other two survived and were subsequently charged with the murder of their coconspirator. The homeowner was also shot.

In referring to the Wednesday’s shooting, Decker said: “Homicides like this, especially with a gun, are extremely rare; and we’re lucky for that.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Nick Ryan at (650) 522-7670 or the secret witness line at (650) 522-7676.

samantha@smdailyjournal.com

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