Arraignment delayed for man accused in Watsonville double homicide

Arraignment was postponed Wednesday for the man accused of fatally shooting two people in Watsonville last weekend, including a 4-year-old girl.

Michael Escobar, 31, appeared in Santa Cruz County Superior Court Wednesday for a scheduled arraignment on multiple charges, including two counts of murder.

Escobar is accused of shooting three people at the Watsonville Fish House and Valley Inn motel on Friday night.

Watsonville police say Escobar fired several shots at Ramon Rendon, 33, who was leaving his job as a night manager at the motel. Stray bullets struck the restaurant, killing Jaelyn Zavala and striking a 26-year-old man. The family of Zavala, 4, owns the restaurant, police said.

Rendon was killed. Police found him lying outside of the motel.

In court Wednesday, Judge Stephen Sillman ordered Escobar to be held without bail. Previously his bail had been set at $10 million. Requests by media outlets to take photos and videos of the court appearance were denied.

Escobar’s arraignment was postponed in order to give the public defender’s office time to determine whether they can represent him. He’s due back in court Oct. 26.

Escobar is described as a gang member from Salinas who now lives in Watsonville.

“Gang violence has spilled over into the killing of an innocent 4-year-old,” Assistant District Attorney Johanna Schonfield said outside court Wednesday. “As in any homicide investigation our office takes it incredibly seriously, but I mean, this is the most serious you can get.”

She said her office is continuing to investigate the case and will do so until she is confidence that they have identified and interviewed all witnesses and anyone who could potentially have been involved.

Escobar has a past criminal history. If convicted, he could face life without the possibility of parole.

According to Schonfield, the District Attorney’s Office is providing the Zavala family with support through its victim-witness program.

In an interesting twist, Escobar’s brother Julian was convicted back in 2011 of killing a 19-year-old in what prosecutors characterized as a case of mistaken identity. They said Julian Escobar was seeking revenge on the person or persons who had shot Michael Escobar previously.