Joshua Nunez booking photo from a prior arrest
SALINAS — Police are still on the hunt for a suspect wanted in connection to an attempted homicide in February.
On the evening of February 25th, Salinas police responded to reports of an attempted homicide in the 1300 block of Wiren Street. It wasn’t long before the suspects were identified as 29-year-old Joshua Nunez and 27-year-old Gil Vasquez.
On April 19th, police assigned to survey Vasquez conducted a traffic stop and placed him under arrest, charging him with attempted murder, conspiracy, and gang enhancements. Indeed, Vasquez just so happened to live on the same street as the victim.
Police secured a search warrant for the residence but, due to the violent nature of the crime and Nunez’s criminal history, a SWAT team was commissioned to assist in the search. As they secured the scene, police witnessed 42-year-old David Nunez run out of the house, throw a weapon over the fence, and retreat back into the house.
Another suspect, identified as 23-year-old Robert Gabriel, tried to escape by hopping the backyard fence. The police presence proved overwhelming, however, as he surrendered and was taken into custody without further incident.
Meanwhile, police called David Nunez and two women out of the house for detention. During the subsequent search, police recovered two revolvers and a level action rifle, as well as the weapon David Nunez threw over the fence — an unregistered AR-15 rifle.
Vasquez, Nunez, and Gabriel were booked into Monterey County Jail. The two women were released at the scene. An arrest warrant has been issued for Joshua Nunez, who remains at large. His bail amount has been set at $3.7 million.
