Unsolved Homicide
Case: 05-31721
Victim: Gallegos, Jesus Escamilla (20 YOA)
Occurred: December 17, 2005
Investigator: Patrick Murray
Summary
Jesus Gallegos emigrated from Mexico at the age of 14 to join his parents, brothers and sisters who were already living in Napa California. He lived with his parents at their home along with his brother and sister-in-law and their small children. Jesus worked full time, along side his father in the fields of a Napa Valley vineyard. Jesus Gallegos was 20 years old when he was murdered.
Like most young people, Jesus enjoyed socializing with his friends and relaxing on the weekend. He had been to the El Rancho night club (1450 Monument Bl) in Concord only a couple times before, but enjoyed the Mexican cowboy atmosphere and dancing. On December 17, 2005 Jesus met up with friends at a small restaurant in Napa called the Latino Market. There, they made their evening plans of driving to the El Rancho club in Concord.
Jesus rode with an acquaintance to the Concord club. Jesus and this acquaintance had met through mutual friends a few times prior but didn’t know each other all well. They arrived at the El Rancho at approximately 10 PM. Jesus and the acquaintance went into the club which is divided into a restaurant/dance area and a bar area where alcoholic drinks are served. The bar area is closely watched by security officers to prevent under-aged patrons from attempting to purchase alcoholic beverages.
Jesus became separated from his friend due to the large crowd that night. Jesus attempted to enter the bar area but was stopped by the security officers because he was under age. Jesus was ultimately ejected from the club for attempting to violate the house rules. As he stood outside in the pouring rain, Jesus called his friend several times on his cell phone. Jesus explained that he had been kicked out and barred from re-entry into the club. Jorge agreed to meet his friend back at his pickup truck in the parking lot and they would head back to Napa.
It was about 10:40 PM and Jesus was waiting for his friend in a small alcove at a veterinarian hospital next door to the El Rancho. The parking lot of the closed veterinarian hospital is used for overflow parking on busy weekend nights. Jesus sought shelter from the building’s overhang to avoid the rain. His friend’s pickup truck was parked in a stall nearby. It took his friend about ten minutes to make his departure from the club. Just outside the door, his friend heard several gunshots in the area where he had parked. Concerned for Jesus, his friend ran toward his truck. As he rounded the corner of the veterinarian hospital he was met by Jesus who was running back in the direction of the El Rancho. Jesus had been shot several times in the back and collapsed in his friend’s arms. His friend carried Jesus to a small grassy lawn where he later died.
Possible Suspect Information
Hispanic male with dark skin color, approximately 28 years old, 5’-5”, 160 lbs., wearing a dark color shirt.
Hispanic male, 5’-8” to 5’-10”, wearing a black mid-thigh leather jacket and brown cowboy hat.
Possible Suspect Vehicles were described as:
- Dark color early 90’s Nissan Sentra,
- Mid-sized brown color pick up truck and
- Gold colored Ford Bronco.
