Man arrested in connection to July Chinatown homicide

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) An arrest has been made in connection to a homicide in Salinas' Chinatown.

Police arrested 38-year-old Peter Mendoza Tuesday and booked him into the Monterey County Jail on homicide and probation violation charges.

The homicide happened on July 11 at around 8 p.m. Police responded to a report of a shooting near Market and Soledad Street and found 37-year-old Alfonso Nevarez. They said he was laying in the dirt area on the south side of Market near the railroad tracks.

Nevarez had been shot in the upper torso and was pronounced dead at the scene.

During the investigation, police said community members provided information that helped them identify Mendoza as the suspect. Detectives heard he was staying near the railroad tracks and found him near North Main Street and East Rossi Street.

Anyone with information is asked to call Salinas police at 831-758-7321.