SAN JOSE -- Two men have been arrested in the Dec. 11 shooting death of an 18-year-old San Jose man in what police described as a drug-related robbery attempt near a neighborhood park.

Police announced Friday that they arrested Louis Sanchez Reyna, 21, and 20-year-old Jacob Craig Whitley, both of San Jose, in connection with the slaying of Cody Sonenberg near Paul Moore Park off Hillsdale and Cherry avenues.

Detectives believe that the pair was trying to rob Sonenberg of drugs when the shooting occurred. They also suspect Reyna and Whitley have robbed others at the site known as cherry park, and that those victims have been reluctant to come forward because of their own drug activity. Police said they should come forward without fear of arrest.

"Our homicide unit is asking them to come forward. We are interested in them as robbery victims only," said Officer Albert Morales. "We're looking for them as witnesses and as victims."

Sonenberg's death was first reported about 3:20 p.m. Dec. 11 when police dispatchers were alerted to a pickup truck that crashed into a tree in the 1400 block of Fairhaven Drive, just steps away from the park. Officers found Sonenberg a few feet away lying unconscious in the street. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and an autopsy confirmed that he had been shot before the crash.

Both suspects were arrested Dec. 15 and are being held without bail at Santa Clara County Jail.

The shooting was a

tragic milestone for San Jose, marking the city's 44th homicide of the year, a 20-year high. That tally increased early Friday morning with a deadly stabbing in North San Jose.

Anyone with information about the shooting or robberies with connection to the suspects can contact homicide detectives at 408-277-5283, or leave an anonymous tip with Silicon Valley Crimestoppers at 408-947-STOP (7867) or http://tipsubmit.com.

Contact Robert Salonga at 408-920-5002. Follow him at Twitter.com/robertsalonga.