UPDATE: King City cracking down on violence

UPDATE 3/6/17 6:10 p.m.: Police are investigating what they believe is a gang-related shooting in King City.

Police say Hipolito Cruz-Carreno, 31, was shot in his car on Saturday night on the 100-block of North San Lorenzo Street in King City. His family, including his six and ten year old daughters were in the backseat, while his wife was in the passenger seat. His daughters were unhurt, but his wife was taken to the hospital after she was hit by shrapnel.

His shooting death appears to be gang-related, possibly involving at least two suspects.

“He has no criminal history, we can’t find any affiliation to a gang, we really don’t know at this time the motive behind this crime,” said King City Police Chief Bob Masterson.

Earlier this year, King City police enlisted help from other agencies to help patrol the city after a series of shootings, six in eight days. This latest shooting happened after that max enforcement ended.

Cruz-Carreno’s death marks the second homicide of the year, already matching last year’s totals. On January 16, a person was shot and killed on the 200 block of Seventh Street.

King City has had a violent past and the city believes the majority of violent issues have been determined to be gang-related. There are some 200 identified northern and southern gang members living in King City. Within the last five years, there have been 14 homicides. 12 are unsolved.

“A lot of people nowadays, especially in today’s society don’t want to talk to police,” Masterson said. “I won’t get into the details about that but it’s a fact we know. They talk to each other. The community hears things. Well, provide that information to us.”

Neighbors agree crime has gone up. Donna Costa has been living in King City for 45 years. She remembers a time when neighbors didn’t lock their doors. That has changed.

“We’ve had gangs for many years in Southern Monterey County but it has become a little more troubling in the last year than it has at any other time,” Donna Costa said.

Police said they’re trying to be proactive, rolling out a comprehensive plan to end youth violence and investigating in surveillance cameras. Part of the comprehensive plan recommends out of school services, particularly for elementary school aged youth. It also includes other suggestions like more street lights and a daytime curfew.

Last week, the city council approved the first phase of the program, which would install nearly 30 cameras strategically placed around the city. The city is still working out the logistics, but it’s unclear when the cameras will be up and running.

The idea is to capture crimes and act as a deterrent.

Police believe people should be concerned about the crime, before another innocent life is taken.

“Well I think if they’re not worried, they’d seriously need to re-engage the community,” Masteron said. “If we’re having this amount of violence, it’s only a matter of time before we do get that six year old shot through the wall innocently.”

UPDATE 3/6/17 12:11 p.m.: On Monday, the King City Police Department and city leaders gave an update on the investigation into a shooting Saturday night, where a father was shot dead inside his car with his family inside.

Officers said the victim, Hipolito Cruz Carreno, 31, was a church-going man, an alcoholics anonymous counselor and a good citizen. They also said Carreno didn’t have any ties to gangs.

Investigators said his daughters, ages 6 and 10, were not hurt but his wife was hit with shrapnel and was taken to the hospital.

KION’s Mariana Hicks will have more on this story Monday night.

PREVIOUS STORY: King City police are investigating a fatal shooting that left a 31-year-old man dead Saturday night.

Officers were called out on a report of shots fired on the 100 block of North San Lorenzo Avenue and found Hipolito Cruz Carreno inside a vehicle just before 8 p.m., according to the King City Police Department. Carreno died at the scene.

Carreno’s wife and two daughters, ages six and 10, were inside at the time of the shooting. Carreno’s wife was injured and taken by ambulance to Mee Memorial.

Authorities say they’ve not yet found a motive for the crime. If anyone knows anything about the case, they’re asked to call the King City Police Department at (831) 386-5980 or the WeTip line at 1-800-78-CRIME