Four jailed on felony assault and conspiracy charges after gunshots fired at vehicle

Four were arrested late Friday night and early Saturday morning on felony assault and conspiracy charges after shots were fired at a vehicle on North Edmonds Drive, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

The incident, in which the victim said she feared for her life as she was being shot at while driving her vehicle, appears to be gang related. Arrested were Melissa Ayala, Adrian Munoz, Raquel Mae Ayala and Daniel Francisco, all of Carson City. Each face felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon while assisting gang members, conspiracy to commit a crime. Each face bail amounts of $60,000 on the felony charges.

According to the arrest report, officers assigned with the Tri-County Gang Unit in Carson City were called by Sheriff Ken Furlong shortly before 11 p.m. after making a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding on Dori and and Rex streets. Upon stopping the car, a passenger got out and told the sheriff someone was shooting at his girlfriend in the 1500 block of North Edmonds.

The gang unit responded and on arrival deputies established a perimeter around the area and began looking for any victims or a crime scene. After checking some apartments, officers were unable to find a crime scene.

Sgt. Humphrey was notified by a confidential source that there had been a female identified as Melissa Ayala and two males walking around the area, creating problems and shooting in the area. While gang officers remained on scene, Melissa Ayala appeared on North Edmonds and then approached deputies. She denied being involved in any shooting in the area. Dispatch advised the woman had a confirmed warrant from Douglas County for contempt of court. She was arrested and taken to jail.

Dispatch then advised the female victim had called and was responding to 1500 North Edmonds. On arrival the victim stated she lived at the North Edmonds with her boyfriend who Sheriff Furlong had stopped. The victim stated she was in her blue car in an area behind 1500 North Edmonds getting ready to drive when she saw a female coming from behind toward her car.

The victim stated the female, later identified as Melissa Ayala, stopped next to her car, leaning on her other vehicle. The woman looked insider her car and then motioned behind her for someone to come forward. The victim then saw a man with a shaved head, later identified as Daniel Francisco, come forward from the shadows behind 1501 North Edmonds.

The male was wearing a green shirt and black bandana over his face. As the male approached her she saw he was carrying a small silver handgun. The victim said she became frightened and drove away fast from behind the complex on North Edmonds. The victim stated as she began driving away she heard several gunshots and a bullet hitting her car.

Officers observed what appeared to be a bullet strike on the driver’s rear fender. The impact appeared to dent the rear fender and caused scratches as it ricocheted off the fender. The victim stated she drove onto Brown Street to get away. The victim called her boyfriend to find out what to do and said she saw a silver car parked near where she saw the female and male.

A deputy spotted a silver car pulling in behind 1501 North Edmonds just before Melissa Ayala came from behind in the area of 1501 North Edmonds. Another deputy and a private security officer located Adrian Munoz and Daniel Francisco hiding behind bushes in the area of Condor, which is east of North Edmonds.

Francisco was wearing a green shirt and carrying a green bandana. Munoz and Francisco are both gang members and the color green is the gang’s colors, the arrest report states. Munoz’s silver 2007 Chrysler 300 was located parked behind 1501 North Edmonds.

The victim stated Francisco looked like the subject with a handgun. Both Munoz and Francisco were on Alternative Sentencing for trafficking controlled substances in Carson City and Washoe County. Munoz told Sgt. Humphrey there was an incident with the victim but it was a rock thrown at the victim’s car, the arrest report states.

Deputies returned to the Chrysler and spoke with Raquel Ayala inside. She is the girlfriend of Munoz and and Melissa’s sister. Raquel lied and gave deputies four different versions of events with the car and their involvement. She was arrested on the three felony charges plus a misdemeanor charge of obstructing, the arrest report states.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab Forensic Technician arrived and performed gun shot residue tests on Adrian Monoz and Daniel Francisco. Francisco tested presumptive positive for gun shot residue on his hands. Munoz tested negative.

All four were arrested and interviewed, each giving conflicting stories. In addition to the felony charges, Melissa Ayala was also charged with misdemeanor contempt of court on a warrant. Munoz was charged with violation of bail conditions, a misdemeanor.