Suspected Hopland gang members arrested in drive-by shooting

Two suspected gang members from Hopland are facing attempted murder charges following an investigation into a drive-by shooting in Boonville ?earlier this month.

Mendocino County Sheriff’s officials said Friday that Alfredo Asher Knight, 18, and Marshall Leland Stillday, 19, were arrested Saturday during a routine traffic stop and booked into jail. The men were wanted in connection with a shooting incident on Aug. 7.

In the incident, a victim reported that two men in a silver Ford Mustang had followed him, even after he stopped at a convenience store, officials said.

The victim told police that shortly after he parked in a well-lit place in the 14400 block of Highway 128, the Mustang approached his vehicle and a shot was fired.

Sheriff’s officials said a bullet went through the victim’s rear window and barely missed his head. Investigators identified Knight and Stillday from surveillance video. Authorities said the two are known to be associated with a criminal street gang.

During the traffic stop Saturday, Mendocino County sheriff’s deputies found a loaded pistol in the vehicle. A subsequent search warrant of the suspects’ residence yielded a firearm of the same caliber used in the drive-by shooting, officials said. A silver 2013 Ford Mustang also was located at the residence.

Stillday and Knight each face attempted murder, conspiracy, weapons and gang participation charges. Authorities set bail for each man at $300,000.