Five Busted in Sting Following Hayward July 4th Shooting

A multi-jurisdictional effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies led to the arrest of five individuals on August 3, 2023, in connection with the shooting on Ranker Place on July 4th, which left six people injured. According to a recent Hayward Police Department news release, multiple search warrants and an arrest warrant were executed in Hayward, Redwood City, and San Mateo.

The shooting incident, which took place near the 400 block of Ranker Place, was sparked by an altercation that escalated into an exchange of gunfire involving at least three shooters. Six shooting victims were identified, with two of them critically wounded. Thankfully, all victims have been released from the hospital and are expected to make full recoveries.

Investigators are still working to confirm whether one of the victims was also a shooter. His name has not been released yet. The third shooter has not been identified and remains at large. Hayward Police Department's Special Duty Unit (SDU) has been leading the investigation to identify other individuals involved in the incident, and the subsequent operation has yielded some results.

During the multi-agency operation, Kasi Pohahua, a 52-year-old resident of San Mateo, was positively identified as the second shooter involved in the Ranker Place shooting. Pohahua was arrested on charges of attempted murder, negligent shooting and being a felon in possession of a firearm. At present, Pohahua is being held at the Santa Rita County Jail.

The execution of search and arrest warrants involved assistance from San Mateo County SWAT and the U.S. Marshals Service, as well as the Hayward Police Department’s Special Response Unit, Criminal Investigative Bureau, and Special Investigative Bureau. The coordinated efforts led to the arrest of four other adults on firearm-related charges not directly connected to the Ranker Place shooting.

In total, eight firearms were confiscated during the operation, showcasing the determination of law enforcement to crack down on gun violence in the community. The Hayward Police Department thanked the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance with the multi-jurisdictional effort.

(Hayward PD)

While the investigation is still active and ongoing, the initial results indicate progress in bringing justice to those affected by the Ranker Place shooting. The authorities encourage anyone with information about the incident to contact the Criminal Investigations Bureau at 510-293-7176. The report number for this incident is 2023-37757.