Salinas police identify man killed in Wednesday night fracas
***UPDATE 9:15 a.m. ***
The man shot last night has been identified as 23-year-old Constantino Garcia, who’d recently moved to Salinas with his wife and child. Police estimate there were approximately 100 people in the area who presumably witnessed the shooting, but at this time, no witnesses have come forward with information. Those who may have witnessed this incident are urged to contact Detective Zuniga or Detective Gonzalez of the Salinas Police Department Investigations Bureau at 758-7929 or 758-7127. You can also call the anonymous tipline at 775-4222 or the We-Tip-Line at 1-800-78-CRIME.
**UPDATE 5:10 a.m.** Police investigators and protestors have cleared the area along Del Monte Avenue in east Salinas.
The command center has also be broken down.
Still no word from police on the officer taken to the hospital after being hit in the head with a bottle.
The incident happened as he was attempting to perform CPR on the victim of the shooting.
One arrest was made Wednesday night. Officers say 26-year-old, Diego Ruiz, harassed a K-9 and gathered followers to taunt police. Garcia was arrested and faces inciting a riot and resisting arrest charges.
**UPDATE 11:30 p.m.** Salinas police tell KION that the victim of Wednesday night’s shooting in the area of Del Monte and Greene has died.
Circumstances surrounding the shooting are not clear, but it’s believed between 500 and 1,000 protesters were nearby at the time. Officers responded just before 9:10 p.m.
No arrests have been made.
One Salinas officer was sent to the hospital after he was allegedly hit in the head with a bottle. The extent of his injuries are not clear.
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**UPDATE 11:22 p.m.** SWAT teams from Santa Cruz County have been called in to help handle large protest in the area of Del Monte and Mae in Salinas.
Large crowd of protesters remain on scene.
KION’s Marissa Schwartz reports she witnessed officers tending to shooting victim on ground, then leaving man’s body on ground after attempts at CPR. It’s reported the shooting victim was then transported to a hospital.
As of 11:20 p.m., no arrests have been made and no suspect information has been made available to the media.
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**UPDATE 10:30 p.m.** One man taken to the hospital, officer who responded was trying CPR when he was hit over the head with a bottle. He had to be taken to the hospital as well.
Officers say bricks and bottles have been thrown throughout the night. Protesters continue chanting. No pepper spray or use of force by police as of 10:30pm.
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Salinas police are responding to reports of a shooting victim on Del Monte and Mae Avenues Wednesday night.
The initial call came in just before 9:10 p.m. Our KION reporter confirmed an officer was also hit with either a bottle or a rock and an ambulance is on the way to the scene.
Police, deputies and other responding agencies are dressed in riot gear, including helmets. Mutual aid has been requested from Monterey and Marina.
There are still 300 to 500 protestors in the area, who gathered earlier Wednesday at the site of Tuesday’s officer-involved shooting.
We’ll have a live report KION-TV at 11 p.m.
