Shooting victim uncooperative

A Yuba City man, said by authorities to be a member of the Norteños street gang, defiantly testified Wednesday that he did not know who shot him eight times with a .45-caliber handgun from a distance of about 10 feet.

Josiah Pacheco, 18, the victim of the March 12 shooting near the Cooper Avenue Market in Yuba City, was a witness in the attempted murder trial of Salvadaor "Chava" Lopez, who was 16 at the time. Lopez is a member of the rival Sureños gang, according to police.

The jury trial continues today in Sutter County Superior Court.

In his opening statement to jurors, Deputy District Attorney Chris Carlos warned jurors that Pacheco would deny knowing who shot him despite telling detectives earlier that Lopez was the shooter.

Pacheco and Lopez spent time together while incarcerated at Bi-County Juvenile Hall.

"Cooperation with the police and the district attorney is forbidden" among gang members who fear losing status, Carlos said.

Pacheco, wearing a hip-length black T-shirt and a pair of baggy red shorts — red is the Norteños color — took the stand and denied ever identifying Lopez.

"I don't know. I thought I knew. I was wrong," said Pacheco. "I know I didn't get shot by the person you have here today."

Pacheco repeatedly responded to Carlos' questions with his own questions.

"I told you that he did not shoot me. Didn't you understand that?" Pacheco said.

After visiting the Cooper Avenue Market to buy a bag of Skittles, Pacheco was walking north on Cooper Avenue about 10 p.m. when a southbound green sedan passed him, turned around and pulled up in front of him, said Carlos.

Lopez got out of the car, pulled a gun, said "What's up?" and began shooting, Carlos said. Yuba City police Officer Jason Parker arrived a minute or two later and found Pacheco standing in the front yard of a house in the 700 block of Cooper Avenue, bleeding from his wounds.

When asked who shot him, Pacheco responded, "Some Sureños," Parker testified.

Police testified they found seven shell casings and a bloody slug on the ground.

In an ambulance on the way to Sutter Roseville Medical Center, Pacheco identified Lopez as the shooter, said Officer Joshua Jackson.

Pacheco denied making any statements because he thought he was dying.

Pacheco also denied telling a detective he wanted Lopez set free so he could later "whack" him.