Teen to Be Charged as an Adult in Shooting Death of Baby

A 17-year-old arrested in the fatal shooting of an infant in East Palo Alto over the weekend will be charged with homicide as an adult, a San Mateo County deputy district attorney said Wednesday.

Fabian Zargoza of East Palo Alto will appear in San Mateo County Superior Court Wednesday afternoon, Chief Deputy District Attorney Karen Guidotti said. The shooting killed 3-month-old Isack Jesus Jimenez Garcia and wounded his parents, Ivonne Garcia Lopez and Oscar Jimenez. Zargoza has also been charged with the special circumstance of lying in wait, two counts of attempted murder with the infliction of great bodily injury, and use of a firearm in the commission of the crimes, Guidotti said.

Zargoza, a known gang member, was taken into custody Sunday afternoon on weapons charges and later implicated himself in the shooting when he was questioned by investigators, acting police Capt. Jeff Liu said. Police believe Zargoza and another person shot the family after mistaking them for Sureno gang members who had beaten up Zargoza in Redwood City on May 31.

Zargoza is scheduled to be arraigned in San Mateo County Superior Court at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

An account has been opened at Wells Fargo Bank to help the victim's family pay for funeral expenses. Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so at any Wells Fargo branch by referencing the account: Izack Jesus Jimenez Garcia.

—Bay City News Service