No arrests in South County shootings

Soledad man shot and killed, King City man shot in the back

After a shooting Saturday in King City and a fatal shooting Sunday in Soledad, at press time, no arrests had been made in either case.

Jessie Herrera of Soledad, 40-years-old, was fatally shot Sunday afternoon while walking home from the grocery store in Soledad, police said.

Herrera was found shot to death on Nestles Road in Soledad

At about 3:31 p.m., according to the police report, officers responded to a call of gunshots in the 300 block of Nestles Road where officers found Jessie Herrera lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds to his body. Although emergency crews performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Herrera was pronounced dead about 10 minutes later.

According to records in Soledad, his death marks the city’s second homicide this year.

Police said Herrera was returning from the store to his home when he was shot. Witnesses reported seeing a person, wearing a gray-hooded sweatshirt, fleeing on foot from the scene.

Assisting in the incident were officers from Gonzales, Greenfield and King City police departments, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol.

According to Chief Eric Sills, police set up a perimeter but were unable to locate a suspect. He said, “the motive of the shooting is uncertain, although Herrera was known to have associated with gangs, it’s not known whether he was still an active gang member.”

In King City, according to the police report, on Saturday night around 8:45 p.m., an unidentified 18-year-old Hispanic man was admitted to Mee Memorial Hospital with a gunshot wound to the back. Police responded to the emergency room where they met an “uncooperative” victim who would not say where the altercation occurred and why. According to Chief of Police, Nick Baldiviez, the shooting appears to be gang related.

Anyone with information to the case is encouraged to call Soledad Police Department at 831-223-5121 or detective Jorge Arreola at 831-223-5166. The King City police can be reached at 831-385-4848 or to remain anonymous, the We-tip line 1-800-782-7463.

Read More:

Salinas Californian: Soledad Police: Man shot dead while walking home