GUSTINE – Local police are continuing their search for three suspects in the June 3 slaying of a Gustine man in what authorities say was a gang-related confrontation.

Pedro Flores, 25, of Gustine, was stabbed to death when he intervened in a fight between three men and two juveniles in the parking lot of the South Avenue apartments, Police Chief Devon Stavrowsky said.

Authorities have identified the three suspects as brothers Ricardo Valencia-Andrade, 18, and Jorge Valencia, 19, both of Gustine, and Jose Hernandez, 18, of Los Banos.

They were identified as “persons of interest” in the early stages of the investigation, but Stavrowsky said warrants have now been issued for their arrest. He said Hernandez is believed to have inflicted the fatal stab wound.

Stavrowsky said the victim was a member of the Sureno gang. Investigators believe Flores was stabbed when he came to the aid of two juveniles affiliated with the Surenos who had gotten into a fight with the three Norteno suspects.

“They were overmatched by the Nortenos, and the victim came to their defense,” he stated.

“It started out as a verbal argument that escalated to a fistfight,” Stavrowsky added. “Each group went back to get some buddies and weapons, and it got to the point that somebody was killed.”

The homicide was Gustine’s first gang-related murder.

Authorities have little information about the whereabouts of the three suspects. Valencia-Andrade and Andrade have connections to San Jose and are East Side San Jose Nortenos, according to police. Hernandez has ties to the Los Banos, Gustine, Hollister and Soledad areas.

Community members with information about the homicide or the suspects are asked to contact Gustine police at 854-3737.