SALINAS — A local Salinas gang member who’d had several run-ins with police and multiple previous arrests was found shot to death outside in the 600 block of St. George Drive in East Salinas on Tuesday morning.
Police responded to reports of shots heard in the area and found 26-year-old Jonathan Lara dead from multiple gunshot wounds.
Witnesses described seeing a suspicious person running from the area just after the shots rang out. He was then picked up by a light-colored SUV that took off eastbound on Laurel from St. Edwards. Police believe the unidentified person approached Lara and opened fire.
The case is being investigated as gang-related, as Lara has had numerous encounters with Salinas Police due to gang-related activity.
This marks the city’s 23rd homicide of the year and the fifth in only ten days. Anyone with information relevant to the case is strongly encouraged to contact Salinas Police Detective Craig at 831-758-7929 or Detective Schwener at 831-758-7276.
