Six Arrested After Gun Spotted at Gang Member's Funeral

A Union City man was among six people arrested Wednesday after a gun was spotted at a slain gang member's funeral in Fremont, police said.

Several officers responded to Chapel of the Angels on Fremont Boulevard and Chapel Way shortly after 12:30 p.m. when a person reported seeing a large group of people in "gang attire" and a handgun that was in the chapel's parking lot, according to a Fremont police statement.

Police Spokeswoman Geneva Bosques could not confirm whose funeral the group had attended, but noted that it was a service for a known gang member who was murdered in San Francisco. 

The Union City man who was arrested was identified as Rafael Mejia, 22. Mejia was arrested on suspicion of violating parole "due to his gang conditions after he was found to be dressed in gang attire," Bosques confirmed.

Two men were arrested on suspicion of violating various firearms violations. They were identified as Jeremy Young, 36, and Eric Rice, 30, both of Hayward, according to Bosques. A San Lorenzo woman identified as April Fernandez, 26, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm.

Robert Pratt, 27, of Hayward was arrested on suspicon of parole violation, and Marcus Carter, 26, of Oakland was arrested on suspicion of possession of ecstasy and marijuana, police said.

About 20 individuals were initially detained, police said.

While there was a heavy police presence, Bosques said there were no reports of individuals threatening anyone with the weapons. 

"There was just a significant number of gang members in one area," Bosques said. "We're getting guns off the streets, which is a good thing."

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