Family Asking for Donations to Help with Teen's Funeral

A bank account has been set up to raise money for funeral expenses to help the family of Tara Romero, the 14-year-old Morgan Hill girl who was killed Friday night.          

Romero was killed, and three other teens were injured, in a gang-related drive-by shooting at the corner of Del Monte and Cosmo avenues, outside the Village Avante apartments, police said.

The creator of the Facebook page "RIP Tara Romero" set up the account to help Romero's mother, Annette Navarez, pay for her daughter's funeral.

Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo bank with the memorial account No. 7555832786, bank officials said.          

Five suspects, all with ties to the Soreno gang, were arrested in the shooting and have been charged with homicide, attempted homicide and gang enhancement, Morgan Hill police Capt. Jerry Neumayer said.

Fernando Mateo, 20, of Gilroy, Esmeling Bahena, 18, of Morgan Hill, Ricardo Diaz, 19, of Morgan Hill, Primitivo Hernandez, 23, and a 17-year-old Morgan Hill boy were detained after police followed the suspects to a residence on Barnell Avenue.

The four adults were booked into Santa Clara County Jail and the 17-year-old was booked into Juvenile Hall. All five suspects are being held without bail, Neumayer said.

A 14-year-old San Jose girl who was shot in the leg remains hospitalized. A 15-year-old Morgan Hill boy who suffered gunshot wounds to the leg was treated and released. A 14-year-old San Jose girl who suffered a gunshot wound to her stomach remains in critical condition.

-- Bay City News