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A man shot to death in Whisman Park early Sunday morning was the "life-long friend" of his shooter, Mountain View police said.

Marco Jauregui, 25, and Rene Escalante, 24, were walking through Whisman Park at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday when Jauregui allegedly shot his friend multiple times and fled on foot. Both men reportedly grew up in Mountain View.

According to police, Jauregui was arrested late Sunday night in Milpitas after anonymous information and physical evidence led police to a relative's home there. Police say they have also located the murder weapon.

Mountain View police spokesperson Liz Wylie said two witnesses were among the group of four friends present when the shooting occurred.

"We knew who our suspect was from the very beginning," Wylie said. "It was just a matter of getting the warrants."

After being called to the park, located on the 300 block of Easy Street, officers found Escalante suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to Stanford Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Both Escalante and Jauregui are confirmed Mountain View Sureno gang members, but the motive for the killing remains under investigation, according to police. Both lived in Santa Clara at the time of the killing.

Earlier this week, Wylie said the incident was not being investigated as gang-related. The motive for the shooting is unknown.

Jauregui is currently being held for parole violation and murder charges in the San Jose Main Jail.

The shooting is Mountain View's first murder since 2005.

— Staff and wire reports

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