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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW A question of intent ... New police chief named in Talent ... New wine festival planned for Ashland in October ... A question of intent ... New police chief named in Talent ... New wine festival planned for Ashland in October ... Testimony describes gang-related drive-by shooting in February Three local defendants face six counts each of attempted murder A teen who rode along during a February drive-by shooting testified Thursday that a car chase and threats of violence occurred before German Reyes-Real opened fire on a red Ford Escort near South Medford High School. Comment By sanne specht MailTribune.com By sanne specht Posted Aug. 8, 2008 at 12:01 AM By sanne specht Posted Aug. 8, 2008 at 12:01 AM » RELATED CONTENT • Sentence sends message about gang violence • Jurors confirm Monday's verdict convicting Reyes-Real • Verdict questioned in drive-by shooting • Gunman admits firing in drive-by • 3 suspects go to trial in drive-by shooting • Three drive-by shooting suspects await pretrial hearings • Three indicted in gang drive-by • Brothers will face charges for drive-by • Drive-by shooting boosts fears » Social News A teen who rode along during a February drive-by shooting testified Thursday that a car chase and threats of violence occurred before German Reyes-Real opened fire on a red Ford Escort near South Medford High School. Paul Valdez, 17, of Medford, has not been charged in connection with the Feb. 18 shooting. The three men in the car with him, German "Negro" Reyes-Real, 18, and his brother, Gerardo "Compton" Reyes, 20, both of Talent, and Jose "Nephew" Laris, 18, of Medford, each faces six counts of attempted murder. All three have remained in the Jackson County Jail on $1 million bail each since their arrest. Oregon State Police forensic photographs produced as evidence in Jackson County Circuit Court showed seven bullets fired from Laris' .22-caliber rifle that pierced the Escort's windshield. Some stopped in the dashboard, others traveled all the way to the deck behind the rear seat. No one was seriously injured. One passenger, Angel Mallory, 16, suffered minor wounds to his arm and hand, said Senior Deputy District Attorney Tim Barnack. Valdez testified that during the hours before the shooting, he received a call from a friend asking for protection. He said Jose "EZ" Nava told him that Katie "Candy" Comacho, had been chasing him (Nava) earlier in the evening, and that Comacho had gang members traveling in her car. Valdez said Nava told him he believed he was in danger of being beaten or stabbed. "EZ said Candy's car was full of Northsiders chasing him," said Valdez. "Candy was the one setting everything up and causing trouble between the (Norteños and Sureños) gangs." Nava also testified Thursday that he told Valdez a gang called "Raw" was headed to his house to force Nava to join their ranks. Valdez said he and the three defendants arrived at Nava's house on South Grape Street armed with a rifle which had been brought from Laris' residence. The Raw gang members were already at Nava's house. Eventually the Raws understood that Nava was not interested in joining their gang, and the parties separated. Valdez said he, Laris, Reyes and Reyes-Real then left, and found Comacho. The rifle was between the seats. Reyes was driving. Nava did not go with them, he said. Comacho testified Wednesday that she and her five passengers were returning from Rogue Valley Medical Center after visiting Cody Sanders, who had recently swapped his red Norteños bandana for a blue Sureños one. On Feb. 16, Sanders had shot himself in the neck in an apparent suicide attempt. (He died when his family removed life support five days later.) She said they were headed west on Monroe Street near South Medford High School at about 10:30 p.m., when they were chased down by the defendants in a light brown Mercury Marquis. Reyes-Real leaned out the passenger-side window of the sedan and fired numerous shots. Comacho said she and her fellow passengers ducked for cover when the bullets began to fly. Comacho fled to her home and called the police, she said. The car's two male passengers, Mallory and Kevin Pelletier, left before police arrived. The girls initially hid the boys' involvement in the incident, Comacho and others said. "I didn't want to have nothing to do with all this," Mallory testified Thursday. In cross-examination, defense attorneys tried to pick apart discrepancies in Valdez's multiple statements to police and detectives. "Paul Valdez' story just keeps changing. He was treated pretty nice by you," said Christine Herbert, Laris' attorney, to Medford Det. Terry Newell. Herbert and Kelly Ravassipour, Reyes' attorney, tried to distance their clients from Reyes-Real's actions. "After the shooting, (Reyes ) was mad at his brother (Reyes-Real)," said Ravassipour. For the second day of the trial, a metal detector and an officer with a metal-detecting wand again stood outside Judge Ron Grensky's courtroom scanning all who entered for weapons. Medford police and Jackson County Sheriff's Department detectives, as well as officers assigned to Medford's gang and street drug unit, tracked down the identify of the suspects by questioning people who knew about the drive-by shooting, and determined it was gang-related. During the pretrial investigation, Medford police Lt. Tim Doney estimated that about three dozen teens and young adults across the Rogue Valley are involved in gang activity. Some loudly announce their gang affiliation, while others don't admit membership, but hang out with known gang members, appear with them in photos and accompany them to parties, fights and other gang activities, he said. The trial will resume at 9 a.m. today and is expected to end today, Barnack said. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected]. By sanne specht MailTribune.com By sanne specht Posted Aug. 8, 2008 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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