3-year-old shot and killed at Santa Clara apartment complex, suspect arrested

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - A man was arrested on suspicion of murdering a child early Tuesday, Santa Clara police said. The victim was killed inside an apartment complex.

Police said the victim was a three-year-old boy and that the boy was not related to the suspect, 24-year-old Sergio Colin Gomez, of Santa Clara. Gomez is the live-in boyfriend of the child's mother, according to officials. 

Lt. Mike Crescini said in a news release that the arrest occurred after police were called out to 3700 block of Poinciana Drive after getting a report about a shooting. The shooting occurred just before 2:30 a.m. at the Riley Square Apartments just off of Lawrence Expressway north of El Camino Real.

"We heard a shot, a loud bang like someone shot someone. And the lady came out running, crying. And after a few minutes later the cops came in,"said complex resident Sukhraj Singh.

Singh said he saw a woman exit the apartment crying, but he did not know the relationship between the victim inside the unit and the woman. Singh said the woman outside did not appear to be injured. "She was OK, she was crying real loud," Singh said. 

A handgun was located at the scene of the shooting. 

Officers were seen pointing a flashlight inside a blue Volkswagen parked outside the unit.  Later on Tuesday morning, officers were seen going through a large trash dumpster near the apartment unit involved in the incident. It was not known what police may have been looking for in the dumpster.

Gomez was taken into custody after a brief struggle, police said. He was taken to a local hospital to be treated for minor injuries. 

Other neighbors said they were surprised to see all the police activity because the neighborhood is usually quiet. Resident Kat Lucas said: "Pretty unsettling, definitely. The questions in my head are like ‘was this between residents?’ or ‘was it a stranger who came in?’, Lucas said.  Lucas said she was relieved when she found out police were not looking for additional suspects in the area. 

One neighbor, Ratnedra, who's been living in the area for 20 years, also said: "This is the first time I have heard this, and I’m a little bit scared. I also feel a little uncomfortable. You know what I’m saying?"

Police did say that there was no longer a threat to public safety. 

Another man says he's lived in the area since 1994 and thinks most people feel comfortable enough to have their children play outside, like at this nearby park.

"I’ve been walking around here for the past 10 years. Sometimes I even walk in the early morning, like 12 or 1 am. So, it’s pretty safe," said Bob, who lives nearby. 

Gomez is expected to be booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail.