Man Arrested for Pajaro Bar Shooting that Killed 2 Acted in Self Defense, DA Says

Man cleared of murder charges in Pajaro bar shooting, deemed act of self-defense

A man who turned himself in following a shooting at a Pajaro bar has been cleared of murder charges after it was determined that he acted in self-defense. Sergio Carranza Ramos, 47, of Watsonville, walked into a Salinas courtroom on Tuesday to learn that he would not be charged with murder and attempted murder in connection to the incident at El Torero Bar last week.

According to prosecutors, Gerardo Hernandez Herrera entered the bar and started shooting at Carranza, who then pulled out his own gun and fatally shot Herrera. Carolina Martinez, a female waitress, was also killed in the incident, and three others were injured. However, Carranza is not being held criminally liable for the murders and attempted murders, as he was not the one who initiated the gunfire and was acting in self-defense.

Criminal defense attorney William Pernik explained that under the legal doctrine of transferred intent, liability attaches to the individual who started the chain of events that resulted in someone else being killed in lawful self-defense. In this case, Carranza fired in response to Herrera’s illegal and provocative act.

Carranza had turned himself in to the Watsonville police station the night of the shooting. In court on Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty to one felony count of carrying a loaded firearm in public. His bail was reduced from several million dollars to $30,000.

The bar shooting remains an active investigation. If Carranza is convicted of possessing a loaded gun in public, he could face up to three years in prison. However, the evidence suggests that he acted in self-defense, protecting himself and others from a potentially dangerous situation.