1 dead in shooting at US Hells Angels funeral

SAN JOSE, California – A man was fatally shot during a funeral in California for a Hells Angels motorcycle gang member who was killed in a Nevada casino shooting, police said.

A member of the motorcycle group was gunned down Saturday at Oak Hill Cemetery in San Jose around 1 p.m., said police spokesman Jose Garcia. He died after being taken to a hospital. His name has not been released.

The funeral was for Hells Angel Jeffrey “Jethro” Pettigrew, who was president of the Hells Angels’ San Jose chapter.

A member of the rival Vagos motorcycle club is accused of killing Pettigrew Sept. 23 in a Sparks, Nevada, casino shooting that sent gamblers diving for cover. The mayor cancelled a regional motorcycle rally as a result.

The shots were fired at the funeral despite a heavy police presence and as thousands gathered for Pettigrew’s funeral.

Video from television stations showed dozens of police at the cemetery after the shooting, with sections blocked off with police tape.

By early Saturday evening, police had not released additional information, but Garcia said the scene of the shooting “appeared to have been tampered with.” He did not elaborate.

Police and sheriff’s deputies were sent to guard the Hells Angels headquarters in San Jose, the San Jose Mercury News reported.