Watsonville teen shot in confrontation

A 14-year-old was shot several times during a confrontation in Watsonville yesterday.

Officers with the Watsonville Police Department responded at 5:39 p.m. to the 500 block of East Beach Street on a report of shots fired and located a 14-year-old Hispanic male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, police said.

The victim was airlifted to a trauma center for injuries that were life threatening.

Police said the suspect confronted a small group of juveniles in the area of East Beach Street and Hushbeck Avenue, pulled a handgun and started chasing the victim.

The suspect fired several shots at the juvenile as he was running away, and the victim was hit multiple times by the gunfire.

Bullets also struck three nearby vehicles during the incident.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic man, about 25 years old, about 5 feet 5 inches tall and with a thin face. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt.

The suspect was last seen on a bicycle heading north on Hushbeck Avenue approaching East Lake Avenue.

Police said it is not known if the shooting was gang-related. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Watsonville Police Department Crime Tip line at (831) 728-3544.