Salinas Man Mistaken as Gang Member, Shot in the Thigh

Salinas police are investigating an attempted murder that occurred Wednesday afternoon in the area of Calaveras Drive and El Dorado shortly after 4:30 p.m.

A 22-year-old, Hispanic male was sitting in a car with his cousin and another man, when a man walked up to them and stuck a handgun through an open car window, according to Salinas police.

Police say the suspect called the victim by a wrong name, accusing him of being a gang drop out. The suspect put the gun to the victim’s chest and the victim batted it down with his hand.

A shot was fired, which struck the victim in his upper thigh. Salinas police tell Central Coast News, the suspect ran away after firing the shot.

The victim was ultimately driven to a local hospital and treated for what appeared to be a non-life threatening wound.