On Thursday, June 15th at approximately 1:20 am, Salinas Police Officers responded to the 700 block of Garner Ave. on a ShotSpotter alert of gunshots in the area. While responding to the ShotSpotter, they were advised of a victim of a shooting in the area. On arrival, they located Luis Florez Gonzalez (36) suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers attempted life saving measures. However, the victim died due to his injuries.

On Thursday, June 15th at approximately 1:20 am, Salinas Police Officers responded to the 700 block of Garner Ave. on a ShotSpotter alert of gunshots in the area. While responding to the ShotSpotter, they were advised of a victim of a shooting in the area. On arrival they located an adult male 36 years of age suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers attempted life saving measures. However, the victim died due to his injuries. The identity of the victim is being withheld at this time pending notification of family members.

A DUI crash on Saturday night left a 33-year-old woman dead and three others with life-threatening injuries.

The collision happened at 9:44 p.m., on N. Davis Road in front of Hacienda Restaurant. A drunk 16-year-old was driving a silver BMW and collided head on with a white Dodge Journey with two aboard. The 16-year-old had a 31-year-old adult passenger in the car with him. He lost control of the car, crossed the center median into oncoming traffic, and crashed head-on into a white Dodge Journey killing a 33-year-old woman and critically injuring the 44-year-old driver.

Following the tragic shooting that occurred on Saturday, May 20th in the 800 block of Garner Ave, Salinas Police Detectives were able to identify Abel Perez (25) and Ivan Barriga (19) as the suspects.

On Tuesday, 5/23/23 at 7:00 pm Salinas SWAT, Detectives and the Violence Suppression Task Force served a search warrant in the 700 block of Cipriani St in Gonzales. During the warrant service Abel Juan Perez (23) was taken into custody. Perez was later transported to the Monterey County Jail and booked on one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder along with a variety of gun and gang charges.

On 5/20/23, at approximately 2:00 am, a 17-year-old male was stabbed at Natividad Creek Park. The stabbing victim was dropped off at a local hospital. He had multiple stab wounds to his chest, shoulder, and head. The injuries, although serious, do not appear to be life-threatening.

DATE/TIME: 05/13/2023 03:45 | LOCATION: E. Laurel/Towt

INCIDENT: Vehicle Pursuit/ Resisting Arrest/ Felony Warrants

REPORT #: 23-050392

WATCH CMDR: John Murray

An officer was in the area of E. Laurel Dr. and Towt St. when he observed a vehicle code violation and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle, a gray Honda Accord driven by Jesus Alberto Cervantes (43), immediately accelerated running a red light in an attempt to escape. A pursuit ensued and Cervantes attempted to evade officers by traveling throughout East Salinas at a high rate of speed and driving on the wrong side of the road.

Cervantes took the 101 south on-ramp from E. Market Street and made a U-turn at the top of the on-ramp where he was broadsided by a 2015 Honda Accord driven by a 43-year-old man who was traveling approximately 70 mph. The collision caused Cervantes to spin out, and he lost control of his vehicle. He went off the highway and his vehicle came to rest approximately 15 feet down the embankment. Fortunately, the citizen survived the collision and was treated by paramedics and released at the scene.

Cervantes had to be extricated from his vehicle by the Fire Department, and he was transported to the local trauma center where he was treated for serious injuries. Cervantes was fleeing to avoid arrest for four felony warrants, and he will be booked in County Jail on fresh charges of resisting arrest and evading officers.

On 5/11/23, at 9:08 pm, officers responded to a report of gunshots and a woman crying on the 700 block of Elton Place. Minutes later, in what appeared to be a separate incident, a 39-year-old called 911 reporting a man had approached him on Myers Court and revealed a handgun in his waistband and asked him where he was from. The victim ran away and called the police.
A short time later, a 23-year-old man arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his hand. He stated he had been unloading groceries from his car in the driveway of an apartment complex on the 700 block of Elton when he heard several shots and was hit in the hand.
Officers located bullet casings in the driveway of the apartment complex and in the street. There were bullet strikes to the 23-year old’s vehicle and a second vehicle parked across the street. The victim’s 1-year-old child was in the car when it was struck. A search warrant was granted for the victim’s vehicle and an apartment at the location.
This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to call the Salinas Police Department at (831) 758-7321. If you would like to remain anonymous, you can call the Salinas Police Department Tip Line at (831) 775-4222.

DATE/TIME: 05/01/2023 05:52 | LOCATION: Abbott St / Harris Rd
INCIDENT: Fatal Vehicle Collision
REPORT #: 23-050003
WATCH CMDR: John C. Murray

A 28-year-old man was driving his 2012 Honda Accord southbound on Abbott St. A semi-truck with two trailers was also in the southbound lane and just received a green light to continue. The semi began to accelerate when the Honda rear ended the trailer at a high speed. The driver of the Honda was transported to a local trauma center where he was pronounced deceased. The semi driver was uninjured, cooperative, and had no signs of impairment. The SPD Traffic Unit is conducting the investigation.

On Wednesday, 4/26/23, at approximately 6:30 pm, Salinas Police Officers and Salinas Fire Department responded to the 1600 block of Georgetown Way on a report of a juvenile needing medical attention.