San Mateo police arrested three young suspects linked to gel bead drive-by attacks over Memorial Day weekend
San Mateo, California – Over the Memorial Day weekend, San Mateo police detained three individuals linked to several drive-by incidents involving gel bead guns. These attacks happened on Sunday, with the initial episode occurring near North Humboldt Street and East Poplar Avenue at about 7 p.m., followed by another incident an hour later on Los Prados Street.
Victims reported that a white BMW sedan approached them as they were walking, and a passenger from the car started shooting at them with gel beads, hitting them in the face and body.
A third attack occurred around 9 p.m. on Monte Diablo Avenue, where a man and his pregnant wife were targeted. The white BMW passed by them, and the man was hit several times with gel beads. After ensuring his wife was safe, the assailants returned and shot the man again, narrowly missing his eyes. Shortly after these incidents, police caught up with the BMW and detained the suspects a few blocks from where the last attack occurred. Inside the vehicle, officers found three Hydro Strike Pulsar Gel guns and a bottle of Gel-Tek gel beads.
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The arrested suspects were identified as Elder Larios Mayen, 19, Jose Ramirez Rivas, 20, and Emmanuel Vargas, 20, all residents of San Mateo. They were charged with assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy and were taken to San Mateo County Jail.
