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Former gang member testifies at trial
Tommy Salazar describes night of shooting at
Club 7 tavern



Payette - A former gang member appeared in a Payette County court Friday to testify about his connection to a man on trial for murder.

Friday marked day five of the murder trial of Hector Brito Almaraz at the Payette County Courthouse. Almaraz is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Gabriel Flores in the Club 7 bar in Fruitland in April 2006.

Payette County Prosecuting Attorney Brian Lee questioned Tommy Salazar regarding his time in the BMC gang and how one could recognize a gang member.

Salazar said the BMC members would often wear brown and blue clothing, bandannas and even shoelaces to show their allegiance to the gang. He also said gang members would get tattoos to show the same allegiance.

Upon request, he lifted up his shirt to show what he said were gang initial tattoos that he said he received in prison to commemorate his affiliation. The letters B, M and C were emblazoned on his upper chest in green ink, with skin-colored playboy bunny icons within each letter. Salazar testified the bunnies illustrated his nickname, Playboy. He then said Almaraz also had a nickname within the gang, Puppet.

Salazar said he did not know every gang member’s first and last name because they would often use those nicknames instead.

He then testified about the gang’s monthly meetings that he attended while with BMC. He said members were asked to bring in $20 which was placed into a safe.

“If you don’t bring in $20, you get a thing called seconds, where they do what they did to you when they jumped you in,” he said.

At Thursday’s court session, Salazar testified that in order to join a gang, one must endure a beating from other gang members, called “jumping in.”

However, Salazar said he never contributed money to the safe.

When questioned by the defense about his lack of contribution, Salazar said he was able to avoid the beating because it took place on a different day than the meeting. He simply did not appear when requested.

Lee then asked Salazar about the night of the shooting. Salazar testified he knew Flores from work and interacted with him that night.

“I introduced him to Puppet and the homeboys,” he said.

He then testified he noticed a change in Almaraz after he saw Flores’ red Chicago Bulls jersey.

“The air about him changed,” he said.

Salazar said, after he introduced the men, he went back to doing his own thing. He then said Almaraz spoke to him about Flores.

“He said he was going to check those fools, those busters,” Salazar said.

Lee asked for clarification on “checking”.

“Ask them who they are, where they’re from,” he said.

He then said he witnessed Almaraz confronting Flores.

“He said, ‘why are you wearing that shirt?’ And he said, ‘because I like it,’” Salazar testified.

Salazar said the action represented disrespect. Lee asked if disrespect tended to be followed by violence.

“Can’t say that surprises me,” he said. “If someone disrespects me, I’m going to hit them.”

He testified Almaraz hit Flores, and other gang members quickly became involved in the melee.

“That’s when Milo (Armando Castillo-Landin) jumped in,” he said. “I got into it with Thomas Loa (who accompanied Flores to the bar). After me and Thomas were done, there was still a few people on Gabriel.”

He then watched a clarified version of the video Fruitland Police Lt. Stephanie Steele showed the court Thursday.

“They just surrounded him,” he said. “BMC, all the homeboys who were with us.”

He said the fight continued until a man with a cowboy hat pulled Flores from the fray. Lee then paused the tape and asked Salazar to pinpoint the locations of the three men in the image.

Salazar said he was in the background, with Flores in the foreground and Almaraz in the middle.

“That’s Puppet,” he said.

Lee asked Salazar what Almaraz did after he heard the gunshot.

“He hit the door,” he said.

Salazar testified he also left and pointed to two men in camera footage near the door as proof. As with Steele’s testimony on Thursday, Salazar also said Almaraz initially tried to push the door before he realized it swung inward. Lee then switched to an outside camera. Salazar said, in the outside scene, he and Almaraz could initially be seen running in separate directions before running together down the sidewalk.

“The figures go out of sight,” Lee said. “Do you believe that was you and Hector running away?”

Salazar said yes.

Salazar then used a map to show his and Almaraz’s path away from the Club 7 bar.

He testified he saw Almaraz had a .45 caliber handgun.

“I asked him what he was doing, and he said he was waiting for someone to come around the corner,” he said.

Salazar then said Almaraz removed the bullets from the weapon and flicked them over a nearby fence. He then took off his shirt, wrapped the handgun in it and threw it into the bushes.

Defense Attorney Van Bishop continued the firearm questioning.

“Did you say ‘where did you get the gun?’”

Salazar said he hadn’t, which caused Bishop to ask his reasoning.

“Because he had a gun,” Salazar said.

Bishop then asked Salazar how he hoped to benefit from testifying.

“You indicated in direct examination you expected very little,” he said.

Salazar said all he wanted from the deal was to see his grandmother for a few hours before she died.

Bishop asked Salazar if he remembered police officers informing him he could be tried on aiding and abetting for the shooting.

“Aiding and abetting was because we left together,” he said. “Accessories because we went in together.”

Salazar said the agreement was to testify and was only made after the police had received his written statements.

“They got my statements and said they wanted me to get up on the stand, but I didn’t want to,” he said.

Salazar will resume his testimony when court reconvenes on Monday.




Comment Blog - Note: All Comments Subject To Approval

KIND wrote on May 18, 2008 11:56 AM:

" You know what my sister was in the army and she told me that she was first introduced to drugs while she was in the army, I have family in the Military but take it how you want they are still killing people een from within I don't mean to sound like I'm siding with Gangs but anything that consists of more than 3 people is considered a gang. And just because there are bad memebers of gangs don't mean they all are the same. The ones that kill sfor thier colors should be treated like one person. Don't label all as bad becuse then they lash out. Let Tommy and who ever decide to grow up and stand alone be just that, family comes first... "

Jscabz wrote on May 11, 2008 5:59 PM:

" First off to Fred... I don't think you understand what is going on here. Mr. Salazar is HELPING, not hurting the cause. Of course he has mad some bad decisions and was a bad person, but he is NOW HELPING. The whole point of this blog was to say that Katie Pizza is a horrible jurnalist. She has put Mr.Salazar's family and himself at risk. Say what you want about the gangs, but don't condemn and innocent family with the dealings of a FORMER gang member. That is the point Fred, I agree that gangs are bad. I would suggest you stay on the topic and not go into your rants about putting all gang members in a secluded place....that is outside reality try a more real approach. Look at it from a realist perspective and stop your bantering. "

To Kind wrote on May 8, 2008 10:07 PM:

" You are putting our Military in the same bracket as gangs on the street? The Military is not a gang that kills for recreation or drugs. They are out there fighting for your freedom. I have several family members in the military and I take high offense to your comparison. Never the less despite your feelings they are still out there fighting for you and every other american citizen. To Tommy's mother you hold on to your boy and pray for him. He is strong and brave for doing the right thing no matter his decisions before. He can go on to give some great insight on how to stop the gang violence in our country if he continues on the right path. Don't never give up on him or he will give up on himself. "

KIND wrote on May 3, 2008 1:40 PM:

" I am shocked to hear that someone would say put gang members together in a desert and give them guns and drugs and pretty much kill themselves!!!!Who the hell are you to even say that? Yes, in the end God will make all decisions. Are you trying to say that nobody can change?? If Tommy is trying to make a change in his life by doing the right thing, how can you sit there and pretty much pull him back down? Only a mother can truly know if her son is true to his word!!! And another thing Gangs are every where not only the bad one. We just lable them differently example the Military.... "

Dont Matter wrote on May 1, 2008 1:44 PM:

" If this gangster is trying to do the right thing he should just plead guilty and quit costing the tax payer $500 thousand dollars to defend his butt. Win or loose either way he will pay the price in hell for this murder. "

Salazars Mother wrote on Apr 30, 2008 6:47 PM:

" Fred, my family had no clue Tommy was involved in a gang. I have six children all over the age of 18, and 5 of them graduated high school and are doing well.
Tommy was over the age of 21 when he entered this gang, and he turned 26 before we knew about it. You can't follow your adult children around and make sure they stay out of trouble, it is not possible. And believe me, I am not defending my son or his actions. I love him and no matter what he has done in his life, he is still my son. If there were anyway possible for me (as a parent of an ex-gang member)to stop the gang,I would do it. I agree with you..the gangs are a pox on our society and yes they do need to be stopped. But please don't blame me for the choices my adult son has made in the past and don't condemn me for being there for him when he trying to change and be a better person. "

robin wrote on Apr 30, 2008 5:49 PM:

" i understand being against gangs and all but tommie is doing the right thing now he might of made some wrong choices and knows that now, as my sons both made some bad choices, and paid for them, i also understand the living in a small town with nothing for kids to do no place to go you get hooked up with the wrong people you think they will love you and be there forever and they got your back, i been there. tommie and his family have my love prayers and support, it is not always the parents fault, everyone always blames the parents but as we all know the parents have no rights anymore the kids have all the rights, also when our kids turn of age what are we to do spank them! they make there choices and as we all have sometimes not always the right ones. "

Living amoung them wrote on Apr 30, 2008 3:54 PM:

" Barbie, If you think that the "Gang" depends on the newspaper to find out what's happening in the courtroom, you don't know anything about them. The "Gang," from the head to the tail of the snake, knew 2 years ago how things went down, and they know how it's playing out in court as we speak. The first time I heard about "puppet" was from a kid playing soccer 2 summers ago. As Fred said, they are a serious threat to all the citizens of our country. They pretty much seem to run the prisons while we pay to babysit them. We blame the correction officers when they get hurt during their fights the c/os aren't armed as they walk amoung them for heaven's sake!!. While you are trying to protect them from the media they are recruting our school kids. ask any teacher, police officer, prison guard, they'll tell you. Look around you, unless your neighborhood is tagged over and over, you don't know what I'm talking about. Instead of attacking the Argus or any messenger, you should be concerned about the gang problems in our homes, schools, and town. Trust me we are the ones who need the newspaper. "

Mother of several wrote on Apr 30, 2008 2:36 PM:

" Mrs. Salazar, you have my sympathy, having raised several boys who came of age during the drug revolution late(70's) I can understand what you must have to face for your children. The only thing that saved my boys was the tough love defence, church, school councelors, coaches, and sports and the law. I even took one of them to court when he was out of control,(yes, I went looking for him) made a scene and theaten to turn in the owner of the house for contributing to the delincuency etc.etc.) Talk about being an unpopular mom. Well, needless to say, my boys hated me at one time or another while growing up. Did I mention I prayed a lot?? When another one of my charges wanted to go to a foster home to get away from me, I took him to the police department and agreed to it if I got to choose the place. My smart boy changed his mind when he was told that since he was he one who couldn't be handled, he was going to be placed in Pendelton under lock down. All this before they were out of high school. I kept the papers and informed my boy that I would turn him in, in a heart beat because I loved him , but I was stronger than him. My reward? My boys thank me and seek my advice 30 years later. My grandchildren have dads who grew up. Pray for your son ' but be firm and it's ok to be tough even if he hates you for a while. God Bless. "

Fred wrote on Apr 30, 2008 7:08 AM:

" So you would rather stand idly by and let your son join a gang and terrorize a community? Gangs are a pox on our society that needs to be removed by whatever means necessary. If anyone condones the Bonehead Moron Club, THEY are the childish ones. Gang members are cowards who aren't even brave enough to look their victims in the face when they shoot them. They drive by and shoot blindly into crowds or homes. They deface property. They ruin schools. They distribute drugs throughout the community. Mothers of the little pukes are the ones who should be solving the problem, not defending them.

"

Salazars Mother wrote on Apr 29, 2008 11:14 PM:

" I am going to start off by answering Carrys blog. Yes Tommy was able to spend 2 hours with his grandmother (Mammy) before she went to be with God.
next I would like to thank Barbi for her concern about our family.
Though I am not proud of my Sons gang involvement, I will stand behind him all the way because he is doing the right thing now.
As for Freds comment,
"I think that we need to find a secluded place to take all gang members, give them guns and drugs and let them have at each other. That would solve the problem."
You need to grow up. That is the childish thing I have heard in a long time. "

Ruth wrote on Apr 29, 2008 4:04 PM:

" Barbi, it's a NEWS paper. Grow up. I'm sure Mr. Salazar has considered all the possibilities of what might happen when he testified about the activities of his associates. Whether he's on the front page or the back page, or not covered by the paper at all, makes no difference in how those associates will respond. A person was killed. An investigation took place. And, now there's a trial. This is news and, in our legal system, a matter of public record. Were you upset when they were mean to O.J., too? "

Barbi OKief wrote on Apr 29, 2008 1:08 PM:

" While I agree with Chris' comment, he/she seems to be missing my point. These people have families and while they may have made horrible life choices, we live in a small community where everyone knows everyone and I don't think their families need to be run through the dirt and judged by the choices made by their loved ones. Put yourselves in the innocents' shoes. "

i like that wrote on Apr 29, 2008 10:12 AM:

" Fred, I like your solution; there is plenty of desert to section off and acre or two to let them got to town of each other, and away from the important citizens of this nation.... "

chris wrote on Apr 28, 2008 3:01 PM:

" barbi, if Mrs. nawahine was a male she would be in prison or at least on a list of sexoffenders. She in the kid of person that parents need to be aware of. So dont blame the argus for her mistakes. She lucky she was not on the front where it should have been. "

Fred wrote on Apr 28, 2008 12:33 PM:

" I think if Salazar was worried about the repercussions to himself and his family he would have thought about that before joining the Bonehead Moron Club (BMC). I think that we need to find a secluded place to take all gang members, give them guns and drugs and let them have at each other. That would solve the problem. "

yep wrote on Apr 28, 2008 11:26 AM:

" I agree Barbi, typical press....a;ways thinking of themselves, only this paper is purely pathetic... "

Barbi OKief wrote on Apr 28, 2008 8:54 AM:

" Are you trying to Get Mr. Salazar and his family killed or what? Apparently you are not familiar with how gang members operate. By front paging his testimony and identification of the man testifying you are putting a rather large family of innocent and kind people and Tommy Salazar himself in danger. While I can appreciate your need to sell newspapers this is just another blatant example of irresponsibile editing on the behalf of The Argus Observer. It seems that you have some callous disregard for the families of the people you choose to smear in your paper. First Okai, then Nawahine, then Steve Kinzer and now this. How do you people sleep at night. "

carry wrote on Apr 27, 2008 12:46 PM:

" so is he gonna be able to see his grandmother before she goes to be with god ???? "


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