Did Leaky and Rascal attempt murder?

Two men stabbed a third man, either in a fit of jealous rage or to show some gang muscle or both, a prosecutor alleged in court on May 28.

At the end of the hearing, Eligio Santiago, 24, and Raymond Allison, 19, were both ordered to face attempted murder and assault charges for a knife attack. The victim is a man identified as “Benito,” who suffered wounds to his arm, shoulder, leg, and abdomen while he sat in his car seven months ago, according to testimony.

According to witnesses, Santiago’s girlfriend, on October 26, 2013, was making arrangements to meet “Benito” because she wanted to trade sex for drugs. While this woman was in the shower, however, boyfriend Santiago looked at her cell phone and became suspicious of text messages; he warned her that nothing “scandalous” better happen, the woman later explained to authorities.

Santiago and Allison were both in a car when they dropped off Santiago’s girlfriend so she could meet with Benito in a parking lot shared by Stage Stop market and Jilberto’s Taco Shop in Valley Center, according to testimony. Santiago’s girlfriend reportedly got into Benito’s car.

After a while, Santiago’s car reversed into Benito’s car, disabling it, and then the girlfriend was yanked out of Benito’s car. After Benito declined to open his car door as requested, the driver’s side window was busted open with the butt end of a large knife, it was claimed.

Benito suffered multiple stab wounds, allegedly from both Santiago and Allison; afterward, he was able to stagger to a nearby fire station from which he was life-flighted by helicopter to hospital, according to testimony.

Santiago and Allison are both members of the Diablos, the largest of five gangs that claim territory in Escondido, according to a gang expert.

Escondido police detective Gregory Clark said the Diablos have about 230 members. In comparison, Escondido PD has about 160 sworn officers, 4 of whom are assigned to a “gang task force,” he said.

The detective testified that Santiago is known as “Leaky” and Allison is known as “Rascal” within the gang, and that Escondido gang members are known to commit crimes all over San Diego County.

Prosecutor Aimee McLeod claims that both defendants have convictions as juveniles. Santiago and Allison pleaded not guilty and are next due in San Diego’s North County Superior Courthouse on June 11.