|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Two suspected members of the Taliban East Palo Alto gang allegedly beat a preschooler and threatened to shoot him because his father is a rival gang member, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.
The beating and threats were captured on a cellphone video that was in possession of one of the men.
Wilbert Ard, 26, and Dwayne Anthony Henry, 20, were arrested in mid-March for violating their parole and probation by associating with each other as gang members. Ard possessed a cell phone that had numerous videos, including one that showed both men allegedly roughing up a very young boy, who is about 3 to 5 years old.
The men allegedly struck the boy in the head with a loaded 30-round handgun magazine while telling him they were going to shoot him and his father because the father is a rival gang member. The men also allegedly threatened the boy with a handgun as one man racked a round in the weapon.
Karen Guidotti, chief deputy district attorney, said the boy’s father is believed to be a member of a Menlo Park gang. The child and father remain unidentified. Forensic analysis of the phone established the video was made on Feb. 19.
Nancy Gates, mother of Dwayne Henry, called the Palo Alto Weekly this morning (April 3) to deny the allegations that her son is a gang member.
“He is not and has never been a gang member,” she said.
Ard and Henry were arraigned on March 20 and are scheduled for a preliminary hearing April 19. They remain in custody in San Mateo County Jail on $250,000 bail.
YouTube 'auditor' provoked, pepper-sprayed shopper at Mountain View Costco, police sayApril 8, 2026 12:23 pm
Interesting that mom proactively called to deny Dwayne is a gang member. Regardless, what does mom say about her son (who is on parole for something) threatening to kill a pre-schooler? Please include more details on that conversation.
What do you think a mother would do when she hasn’t a clue what her son is up to. She must think it is a social club! She shall see!!!