King City sees six shootings in eight days, police say

UPDATE 02/14/17 10:29 p.m.: “Honestly, I don’t really feel safe in my own town,” said Maria Zavala, a student from King City.

King City has seen six shootings in eight days. Police said these cases could be gang related.

“It seems to be a tit for tat, where one side of the gang is going and shooting and the other side of the gang is responding,” said Police Chief Robert Masterson.

King City police say in the past five years, they’ve seen violence spike every other year. They were hoping for the best in 2017, but so far, it’s not looking good.

Since the shootings, King City has increased patrol with help from other law enforcement.

“The police are still in control of this city,” Masterson said.

But that’s not enough for Zavala and her family.

“My parents don’t want me to walk at night,” Zavala said. “They don’t want me to walk too late because they are afraid something may happen to me.”

Zavala is also worried it could reflect badly on the immigrant community, especially during the Trump administration.

“For everyone to be against each other is (going to) basically give him a new reason why people here, basically immigrants, they are dangerous,” Zavala said.

The city is trying to tackle the problem and officials said it starts with the young.

“Youth is where gangs get their membership, so one of the strategies is to provide youth other opportunities, healthier choices, give them the tools to make good choices for their lives,” said Mayor Mike LeBarre.

But for Zavala, there may be another choice.

“I want to leave,” Zavala said. “I don’t want to be a part of a town that’s against each other.”

PREVIOUS STORY: King City police officers are investigating six shootings over the past eight days, according to Chief Robert Masterson.

Early Tuesday morning, officers were dispatched to a shooting near North Vanderhurst Avenue and Ellis Street.

During their investigation, police found a car that had been hit by several bullets but no one was inside and no one was injured.

Police said patrols are being ramped up in the city with help from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call police at 831-386-5980 or the tipline at 1-800-78-CRIME.