Suspect arrested in connection to a cold case murder from 2008

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Salinas Police told KION Friday that a suspect in a cold case from 2008 has been arrested for murder.

They identified now 33-year-old Eric Hurtado as the man who shot 21-year-old Fernando Sanchez on November 11, 2008. Police say that Hurtado was arrested Thursday during a traffic stop.

According to police, Hurtado was 15 or 16 years old at the time of the shooting that took place in the 1100 block of East Laurel Drive in Salinas.

Police say that when they arrived on scene, they found Sanchez dead from gunshot wounds.

Witnesses were unwilling to talk about the event and no other suspects were identified at the time, according to police. That's when the case went cold, they say.

Around one or two years ago, according to Salinas Police, a detective picked the case back up and started to re-interview witnesses. At that time, police say that they were able to successfully produce new leads that led to the positive identification of Hurtado.

Although police don't think that there are any other suspects involved in this case, they are urging anyone with potentially more information to please reach out to police.

Salinas Police can be reached by calling 831.758.7090.