Menlo Park man shot, possibly in gun battle Menlo Park man shot, possibly in gun battle (November 23, 2005)

A Menlo Park man hospitalized after a possible gun battle in East Palo Alto on Tuesday, November 15, may have been arrested by officers of the Menlo Park Police Department following a shootout in June, according to police.

Police found William Nero, 26, sitting in a vehicle in the 1600 block of Purdue Avenue with several gunshot wounds in his back, said Sgt. Alma Zamora of the East Palo Alto Police Department. He was hospitalized and is reported to be in stable condition.

At the scene, police found shell casings from two different handguns, leading them to suspect that Mr. Nero exchanged fire with his assailant, Sgt. Zamora said.

On June 27, Menlo Park police arrested two men -- including one William Nero, also 26 and also a Menlo Park resident -- following reports of shots fired between two vehicles near the intersection of Willow Road and Newbridge Street, and a police stakeout of a house in the 700 block of Hamilton Avenue.

No injuries were reported in that incident, but Mr. Nero was charged with possession of an assault rifle and of marijuana for sale.

Neither Menlo Park nor East Palo Alto police would confirm that the William Nero injured last week is the same man arrested in June.

The East Palo Alto police are investigating the incident. -- Bay City News Service

E-mail a friend a link to this story.