Trio arraigned in Santa Rosa gang slaying

Three Santa Rosa men were arraigned Monday on murder, gang and conspiracy charges in a slaying earlier this month outside a Corby Avenue apartment complex.

Ramon Perez, 19, Jesse Urbina and Mizrain Navacano, both 22, face life prison sentences if convicted in the killing of Austin Sargent-Deselle, 20.

According to a criminal complaint, the suspects got in a car July 6 and drove into “sureño territory,” armed with a 9mm pistol. After stopping first at a convenience store where they were seen flashing gang signs, the men headed to the 13-unit apartment complex in southwest Santa Rosa, the complaint said.

Two of them donned hooded sweatshirts, got out and walked toward a group standing in the parking lot, the complaint said.

One of the suspects pulled the gun and fired at the victim several times, the complaint alleged.

Sargent-Deselle fell, mortally wounded. His friends tried to load him into a BMW sedan but he was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he died.

The suspects, meanwhile, remained at large for 11 days. They were arrested Friday at various locations in Santa Rosa.

The complaint does not describe the role each suspect played, but authorities say they believe Perez is the shooter. All appeared Monday in a Santa Rosa courtroom where they received court-appointed lawyers. Each was charged with murder, participating in a street gang and conspiracy with multiple enhancements.

They are expected to enter pleas Aug. 6.

Prosecutor Diana Gomez declined to comment on the case, citing an ongoing investigation.

Judge Shelly Averill ordered the men held without bail. All three have criminal records. Navacano was on probation at the time of the slaying.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com.

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Editor’s Note: This story originally contained the wrong first name of the homicide victim, it has been corrected in the text above.