The identities of four men suspected of stabbing to death a man at a Gustine bar were released Thursday by the Merced County Sheriff’s Department.
Arrested earlier this week were:  Ruben Silva, 22; David Silva, 23; Mark Oseguera, 24; Richard Naudin, 30, all out of Southern California. All are being held on charges of suspicion of murder, participating in a criminal street gang and accessory to murder. All four were arrested in Southern California.
A fifth man arrested with the other men on Monday was released due to a lack of evidence at this time, said sheriff spokesman Deputy Tom MacKenzie.
According to the sheriff’s department, eight to 10 men entered the Gustine Club at 431 Fifth Street just before midnight Nov. 6, and started a fight with 33-year-old Bill James. During the fight, one of the attackers sprayed the bar with a can of either mace or pepper spray to clear the bar of the other patrons. Once the bar was empty the attackers started stabbing James repeatedly, MacKenzie said.
The fight spilled out onto the street, where James was again stabbed, MacKenzie said. Having received multiple stab wounds, James collapsed to the ground outside the bar. He was pronounced dead a short time later at Los Banos Hospital.
Detectives believe an outlaw motorcycle club is behind the killing. The investigation led them to Southern California, where the five were taken into custody.
MacKenzie said detectives are in Southern California now to conduct follow-up interviews and “follow leads on several more suspects.”
The suspects will be extradited back to Merced County for arraignment sometime next week, MacKenzie said.
To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.