Full Notification

HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA – August 6, 2025 – Hollister Police Detectives have arrested a suspect from the Fourth of July drive by shooting on San Benito Street.
 
Background: On July 4, 2025, Hollister Police officers responded to the 1000 block of San Benito Street following reports of a drive-by shooting. Upon arrival, officers located a 15-year-old male who had sustained a head injury, likely caused by shattered glass from a vehicle struck by gunfire. Emergency personnel from Hollister Fire and AMR provided on-site treatment, and it was confirmed that three individuals were victims of this violent incident. Fortunately, none of the injuries were life-threatening.
 
Officers processed the scene and canvased the neighborhood for evidence and witness statements. Through investigative efforts, including intelligence support and residential video footage, detectives identified the suspect vehicle as a white sedan with dark-tinted windows. The suspect remained at large during the early stages of the investigation.
 
Update: The Hollister Police Bureau continued to pursue the case and, with the assistance of city-owned surveillance cameras and the department’s Flock Safety system, confirmed the suspect vehicle. Detectives further identified the front passenger, reported by the victims as the shooter, through footage captured by the city’s downtown surveillance network. Hollister Police Detectives worked diligently, following leads and conducting surveillance operations to properly identify the suspect.
 
Over the course of the investigation, detectives authored more than six search warrants and dedicated extensive time and resources to plan on the safe apprehension of the dangerous individual responsible. On August 6, 2025, Ruben Eduardo Vargas (30 years), a Hollister resident, was arrested and booked into the San Benito County Jail for attempted murder.
 
The Hollister Police Department would like to thank the Hollister Police Detectives for their dedication and the San Benito County Sheriff's Office for their assistance in executing multiple search warrants throughout the investigation.  This is still an ongoing case, and the driver of the vehicle is still at large. 
 
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is requested to contact Detective Gaeta at 831-636-4330. Persons wishing to remain anonymous may call WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME. Information provided to WeTip may qualify for a reward of up to $1,000. 
 
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Prepared by: A. Melgoza, Sergeant
Approved by: Carlos Reynoso, Chief of Police