On the evening of September 14, 2024, at approximately 9:39 p.m., San Diego Police responded to reports of gunfire in the 1700 block of Newton Avenue in the Barrio Logan neighborhood. Upon arrival, officers discovered two male victims with gunshot wounds. The first victim, identified as 28-year-old Osnaider Silveira, was pronounced dead at the scene. The second victim, 23-year-old Junior Alastre, was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.
Both men were recent immigrants from Venezuela.
Investigations revealed that Silveira, Alastre, and a third individual were near a parked vehicle when an assailant approached and opened fire. The suspect, described as a Hispanic male in his thirties with short hair and a full beard, then entered a white 2012 Kia Forte belonging to one of the victims. Upon discovering a woman in the backseat, he ordered her to exit the vehicle before fleeing the scene in the stolen car.
The following day, September 15, 2024, authorities located the stolen Kia in Rosemead, California. The vehicle was occupied by a man matching the suspect's description. With assistance from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, 23-year-old Guillermo David Gonzalez of National City was arrested without incident. He was subsequently booked into San Diego County Jail on charges including two counts of murder, one count of carjacking, and one count of robbery.
During Gonzalez's arraignment, prosecutors detailed the brutality of the attack, stating that one victim was shot five times, while the other suffered approximately 17 gunshot wounds. After the shootings, Gonzalez allegedly commandeered the vehicle with one victim's wife inside, who "had to beg for her life" before being allowed to exit. A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded a handgun registered to Gonzalez and shell casings matching those at the crime scene. Additionally, investigators noted what appeared to be bloodstains on Gonzalez's shoes at the time of his arrest.
Gonzalez faces serious charges, including two counts of murder with special circumstance allegations of committing multiple murders, which could result in life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or the death penalty if convicted. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently held without bail, awaiting further court proceedings.
The tragic deaths of Silveira and Alastre have deeply affected the Barrio Logan community, highlighting the vulnerabilities faced by recent immigrants seeking better lives. As the legal process unfolds, the community remains in mourning, seeking justice for the lives lost in this senseless act of violence.
