Manhunt underway for fourth suspect in fatal Novato High School student shooting

NOVATO, Calif. (KGO) -- Police are searching for a fourth suspect believed to be connected to the murder of a Novato High School student that occurred Wednesday.

Three of the suspects involved accused of being involved in the murder appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday.

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The district attorney says this brutal crime was gang-related.

The fourth suspect was identified as Javier Guevara, 19. He is still on the run and a warrant is out for his arrest.

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Sheriffs deputies hoped to find Javier in San Mateo where they served a search warrant on south Norfolk Street, but he was gone.

Officials said he's a member of the violent MS 13 street gang and is considered armed and dangerous.

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The district attorney says he is a family member of one of the other murder suspects, Edwin Guevara, 16.

Javier faces a first-degree murder charge with special circumstances. "A machete was used in the course of the attack not just that, but a handgun. We believe he would take extreme steps to protect himself or avoid arrest," Marin Sheriffs spokesperson Lt. Doug Pittman said.

His cousin appeared in court Wednesday along with 17-year-old Juan Carlos Martinez Henriquez. They were arrested last week at an apartment complex and a home near the murder scene. Another classmate, Elmer Fernando Machado Rivera is accused of driving one suspect home from the murder scene. "We now have three defendants charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances and the fourth defendant is charged as accessory," Marin County Deputy District Attorney Dori Ahana said.

This defense attorney said he did not know whether the attack was a retaliation for a previous sexual assault.

Edwin died in the brutal May 25 stabbing and shooting on a trail near Novato High School.

Another victim survived and called 911. His dad was here in the courtroom and said his gravely injured son is doing better.

The case has been continued until next Wednesday at 9 a.m.

The student body president Romario Conrado set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for the victim's families.