Hundreds show up to slain Salinas pastor’s memorial

Over a thousand people came to celebrate the life of the Salinas pastor who was killed last week as he was praying with a parishioner.

Family members and friends of Pastor Herb Valero gathered at Compass Church in Salinas Wednesday morning to speak about his life and his love for Salinas.

They said he was a man of faith and ministry, loyal to others and a loving family man. Valero’s mother said she was proud of her son for being who he was. Others spoke about how Valero’s work changed their lives.

Pastor David “Dell” Castro, a childhood friend of Valero, said he believes Valero would forgive his alleged killer.

“He really was a man that touched the community. He had a heart for reaching out to the gang member, the drug addict,” said Castro. “Like I say, the evidence is clear that he touched a lot of people.”

Valero was 68-years-old and pastor of Victory Outreach Church in Salinas.

For more information about his alleged murder, click here.