In the last three days rival gang members have been targeted
SALINAS—Three separate shootings in Salinas have citizens worried that they might be in the middle of a war between rival gangs. The Salinas Police have made arrests in one incident. They arrested 18-year-old Salinas resident Jesse Gomez and a 17-year-old Hispanic juvenile for their part in a shooting that took place in a North Salinas neighborhood.
There have been a number of shootings in the past in Salinas, but what makes these shootings stand out from all the rest is that they seem to be targeting rival gang members. The first incident happened on Saturday afternoon on the 1500 block of Marin Avenue.
A couple had parked in the area when a white 4-door vehicle pulled up alongside them. One victim noticed that four males occupied the vehicle. Another victim heard some from the vehicle ‘challenge the victims gang affiliation’ then another occupant from the car began shooting at them.
Neither of the victims was struck by the gunfire, but police did find a bullet hole in another car that was parked on the street nearby. The only description they could give officers was a male wearing a blacked colored hat.
The next reported shooting happened on La Posada Drive
“The public has nothing to fear, we are not in the middle of a gang war between rival gangs.” Salinas Police Commander Michael Grove said, “We have had a gang problem for several years now, and it seems that this weekend was no different, just that the victims were rival gang members.”
The other occurrence happened on Saturday night at 9:20 p.m., when a 17-year-old had been walking in the area of 100 block of La Posada Drive, and a vehicle occupied by four Hispanic males began to follow him.
The victim told police that he recognized the occupants as rival gang members. One of the occupants of the vehicle fired several shots at him. He was not hit by any of the bullets but several bullets holes were found in the exterior wall of a nearby apartment.
Approximately four hours later, a person called police stating that the suspects had returned. As police arrived the suspects fled on foot. All four suspects were located after a search of the area. Although no firearms were located the victim was able to identify Gomez as the person that shot at him. Police also arrested a 17-year-old juvenile. They were both booked, into Monterey County Jail and Juvenile hall, on charges of attempted murder with gang enhancements and conspiracy.
a third shooting took place on Toro at Bardin.
The victim in a third recent incident sustained injures. The 18-year-old was walking the area of Bardin Road and Toro Avenue in East Salinas with friends when two suspects approached. There was a verbal confrontation, then several shots were fired. The victim told police that he has had recent problems with rival gang members.
The victim was shot in the lower leg, his injury was non-life threatening and was flown to a bay area hospital for treatment. No suspects were arrested in this incident and all three incidents are being investigated as gang related.
Read More:
Salinas Herald: Suspects in Salinas shooting arrested
The Californian: Two fired on by rival gang members
