Salinas Experiences 12th and 13th Homicide in One Night
SALINAS — On Mother’s Day, the city of Salinas saw its 12th and 13th homicides of the year, respectively, within three hours of each other.
The first was reported at approximately 8 PM. When police arrived on scene, they found two victims suffering from multiple gunshot wounds near the entrance gate to 1054 Atlantic Street. One of the victims, 22-year-old Salinas resident Ortiz Hernandez, was shot several times in the torso. Police and medical personnel provided medical attention and transported him to Natividad Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The other victim, a 42-year-old local, was talking with Hernandez in front of the apartment complex when they were shot. Police learned from interviewing the victim that a Hispanic male, described as 17 to 18 years of age dressed in dark clothing, drew a handgun and opened fire. Nothing was said prior to the shooting to instigate it, although it is being investigated as gang-related.
The second shooting occurred in the 300 block of Block Avenue at approximately 11 PM. Responding officers discovered a 21-year-old victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper torso. Officers administered CPR until medical personnel arrived, at which point the victim was pronounced deceased.
The victim was working on his car when an unknown gunman approached and fired several shots. It is not known if anything was said prior to the shooting. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male adult in a light-colored sweatshirt with the hood drawn up. He is said to have fled the scene westbound on Block Avenue towards Kip Drive in a dark, mid-sized SUV.
