Cell phone records, high school yearbook photos and a key witness led police to the three suspects arrested earlier this month in connection with what authorities are calling the gang-related killing of a Willow Glen High sophomore, court documents released Tuesday said.
Fifteen-year-old Adrian Figueroa was fatally stabbed on Sept. 29 at a park near Almaden Expressway and Via Monte Drive in South San Jose, allegedly by three men who believed he was a gang member. Bryan Wade Lund, 18, and Juan Arturo Hernandez and Anthony Saldivar, both 19, were arrested earlier this month and have been charged with his murder. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office has added gang enhancement charges. If convicted, the three men could go to prison for life.
Court documents had been sealed in the case following the arrests. Tuesday they were unsealed.
According to the documents, a witness at the park told San Jose police that two of the suspects approached Figueroa and yelled “norte” – a reference to the Norteños gang. They then asked if Figueroa “banged” – in other words, if he was a gang member.
The two men chased Figueroa through the park and a third man joined them, initiating an attack on the 15-year-old and throwing him to the ground. The three men proceeded to punch and kick Figueroa. The teenager was left bleeding as the assailants fled, according to the witness. He was taken to the hospital where he died from stab wounds to his torso.
Using detailed descriptions provided by the witness and information that one suspect was a recent student at a local high school, police contacted school officials and obtained yearbooks that ultimately identified Lund.
Police used information from Lund’s cell phone and tracked the location of calls made between the suspects around the time of the 5 p.m. attack to connect the men to the crime. The calls were made in close proximity to the park where the attack occurred.
According to court documents, Lund told police he was in the company of two others when they drove to the park in a green Honda. He said the assault “was not planned, but just happened,” and that he participated, kicking Figueroa in the head and torso while he was on the ground.
He said he fled the scene prior to the stabbing and did not witness it.
Hernandez told authorities he had never been to the area where the park is located and gave no further details, according to court documents. Saldivar admitted driving to the area of Almaden Expressway and Blossom Hill Road with two others on the day of the incident and that he punched the victim, the court documents said. He said he did not stab or kill Figueroa.
Contact Connie Skipitares at cskipitares@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5647.