Alvarez recalled one incident of violence that had happened before the night of June 20 between rival chapters Sunset and Bad Boys saying, “A Sunset member shot a Bad Boys member in the head or eye…the guy that got shot used to be a Sures member.”

Alvarez says the cabinet informed the Sures and Bad Boys that the gang was having problems with Sunset, saying [they] “had to do whatever possible to hunt the Sunset…"
The Los Sures and Bad Boys were instructed by Suero to carry weapons and be ready to attack Sunset members if they should see them. “He said we were to get in our cars and go to where the Sunsets hangout or are known to be…and do what we have to do,” Alvarez testified.

Alvarez testified that the gang members in his car rolled down the windows when they saw Junior walking down a Belmont street, calling out “Popo,” a Trinitarios saying. “The kid just looked up. At that moment people started stepping out of their vehicles,” Alvarez said on the stand. Junior was just walking while looking at his phone, according to the testimony.

Alvarez says Santiago and Tavarez approached Junior first and started asking him questions. Then came Estrella. Alvarez says they were asking Junior if he was Sunset. Alvarez says the gang members used a certain code to determine whether or not Junior was a Sunset.

If a Trinitarios member calls 1090, you are supposed to identify the set of the gang you belong to, Alvarez said. Junior did not respond. “He looked very surprised and scared and started running,” Alvarez said.