3 Face Murder Charges In I-880 Shooting That Killed Young Girl

FREMONT, CA — Alameda County prosecutors on Friday filed three murder charges against three men who investigators allege shot and killed a young girl on Interstate 880 in Fremont last weekend.

Eliyanah Crisostomo, 5, and five family members were on the way to dinner in Milpitas when gunfire erupted. Prosecutors said the girl was in a third-row seat, sitting next to her brother, when a bullet struck her heart. The family told detectives the men flashed gang signs before they began shooting.

"My heart goes out to Eliyanah's family," said Pamela Price, the Alameda County District Attorney. "There is no reason young children should die on our Bay Area freeways. This behavior is absolutely unacceptable. We will not stand for gun violence and these three defendants will be held accountable for their despicable actions."

Price's office identified the three defendants in the case as Humberto Anaya, Ayala Valderrama and Emmanuel Sarango. Each is accused of murder and seven added charges related to shooting at an occupied vehicle.

Prosecutors also linked the three men to another Fremont shooting, reported just 15 minutes prior. In that incident, investigators said the men pulled up to someone walking on Fremont Boulevard and commented on their red clothes. Two left the car and shot at the victim as he ran away. He was uninjured.

In both shootings, prosecutors said the men were driving a red Honda Accord, which the authorities later discovered in Santa Cruz. The three defendants were due in court for an arraignment hearing Friday.

"We want to thank the California Highway Patrol, Fremont Police and Santa Cruz Police for their great work investigating this case, and finding and apprehending these three suspects," Price said.

A fundraiser to support Crisostomo's family had raised more than $80,000 by Friday afternoon, and donations are still welcome.