The evening was meant to be a celebration, as it was Tomas and Dawna's anniversary. Gabriel and Stephanie also celebrated, as an evening out together without their five children was extremely rare. The group decided to go to Brunswick Club, a local 'bar and grill' in Fruitland, Idaho. While there, they met up with two of Tomas and Gabriel's friends, Juan Avila and Joel Garza. The six spent the evening talking, and playing pool. Tomas, Gabriel, Juan and Joel all shared a few beers during the course of the evening. Dawna and Stephanie had no alcohol that night as Dawna was six months pregnant and Stephanie doesn't drink.
At around 11:00 pm they thought they would go check out Club 7, another local bar located across the street from Brunswick Club. Not knowing much about the place, Tomas, Gabriel, Joel and Juan decided they would check it out first, before leaving their table at Brunswick's. Tomas and Gabe returned a few minutes later and recommended that they all go to Club 7, since they had a dance floor. Everyone agreed and Tomas and Gabe waited while Dawna and Stephanie finished their game of pool.
At approximately 11:40 p.m. the group decided to head over to Club 7 so everyone could dance. Tomas, Dawna, Gabriel and Stephanie, all entered through the back door, as patrons often did. Upon entering, they were somewhat shocked to see such a young boy working as a door-man. It was clear to everyone that the boy couldn't have been more than fifteen years old. Much to their surprise, there didn't seem to be anyone checking the front door. Looking around, it became apparent that there were no security personnel, no bouncers, and several patrons are drinking in the establishments that were under twenty one. As they were walking in to find a table, they were stopped by Armando Landin-Cabanilla, aka "Milo Perez". Although not close friends, Milo and Tomas knew each other and the two shook hands and introduced their wives and friends respectively. They then proceeded to a table in an area next to the pool tables and dart boards.
The six stayed in the corner at their table for the remainder of the evening, leaving only to dance or use the restroom. Throughout the rest of the night, several men approached the table to talk and shake hands with Tomas and Gabe. The conversations were always friendly with laughing, shaking hands and pats on the back. The type of jovial banter that occurs when one person hasn't seen the other in a long while or when graciously meeting a person for the first time.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. a group of males loudly entered the bar flashing gang signs, waving bandannas and wearing gang attire. Among them Hector Brito Almaraz Jr., aka "Puppet", Thomas Wayne Salazar, aka "Playboy", Juan Anthony Jimenez, aka "Loco", Fabian Mata, aka "Rudy Mata", Jesse Robert Rodriguez and a few others. Most of the locals knew them to be members of the "BMC" gang. To the rest of the patron's who didn't know who they were, it was obvious these boys were definitely part of a gang. A few of the patron's, including Stephanie Flores and Dawna Peterson were weary of these gang members' intimidating antics. Gabriel Flores pointed Hector out to the group and said that he and Hector had been in a fight many years ago when the two were in their mid teens.
The gang members met up with Milo Perez, also known to have affiliations with this gang, and made their way through the crowd to an area near Tomas, Gabriel, Stephanie and Dawna's table. Having a few drinks in him and in a good mood, Tomas shook hands with the men and spoke briefly about how much fun they were having and how good the night was going. The area soon became very crowded and Tomas and Gabe continued to wait for a pool table to open up. At one point, Joel Garza was being harassed by a few members of the "BMC" gang and had to ask Hector to tell them to back off. Joel had known Hector and thought Hector would tell his affiliates to leave him alone. Hector complied and everyone went about their own business talking, laughing, and having a good time.
During the course of the evening the "BMC's" were loud and intimidating. And when the D.J. played a popular gangster-rap song by the rapper "Young Jeezy", "BMC" members went wild, flashing their gang signs, waving their hands and bandanna's in the air and hollering out their "claim". Gabe thought they were all acting like punks trying to intimidate everyone and so he did his best to ignore them and focus on enjoying what was left of the evening with his wife and friends.
