Temple City High School basketball standout Eric Anthony Olivas, who was named Rio Hondo League MVP this past season, is in custody for a drive-by shooting and has implicated himself in other area shootings, according to a Temple Station Sheriff’s spokesperson.
Olivas, 18 of Rosemead, was arrested earlier this week for allegedly committing a drive-by shooting in Temple City last month.
In a statement released Thursday, sheriff’s officials said Olivas implicated himself in other shootings in the San Gabriel Valley. No one was injured in the shootings, authorities said.
The May 27 drive-by shooting occurred in the 5400 block of Golden West Avenue in Temple City. Detectives later identified a suspect.
On Tuesday, investigators served a search warrant at a Rosemead residence and arrested Eric Anthony Olivas on suspicion of shooting at an inhabited dwelling.
The handgun believed to have been used in the shooting, bullets, spent bullet casings and other evidence linking the suspect to the shooting were recovered, according to the statement.
No details were released about the other shootings.
Online booking records show Olivas had a Thursday court appearance in Alhambra Superior Court.
He is being held at the Inmate Reception Center in lieu of $250,000 bail.
Olivas was one top players in the area this past winter. He led Temple City to the Rio Hondo League championship and averaged 21.2 points per game. After the season, he was named the Star-News All-Area team and played in the Tribune/Star-News All-Star Classic on April 26.
Shortly after the all-star game, Olivas began attending Dr. Doug Sears Learning Center, a continuation school in the Temple City Unified School District.
Olivas’ coach Eric Chin was stunned when told the news of his star player’s arrest on Friday.
“I’m really surprised this happened, to be honest,” Chin said. “He didn’t seem like a bad kid. He’s a really good kid. Very coachable. He might have hung out with the wrong people, but I’m surprised.”
