Violent weekend on the Monterey Peninsula leaves two dead

It was a violent weekend on the Monterey Peninsula. Police in two cities are investigating a series of shootings that left two people dead. Sand City police are investigating their first homicide since 2012 as Monterey police look into the shooting that killed a man on Del Monte Beach.

Officers said Abraham Lizama, 37 of Soledad, was shot and killed early Saturday morning. Monterey police responded to a call off of Tide Avenue at about 2 a.m. Saturday at Del Monte Beach. When officers arrived they found Lizama, who had been shot several times, on the beach right near a bonfire pit. He was taken to the hospital and later died.

Monterey Assistant Police Chief Dave Hober said he doesn’t know if the shooting was gang related, and so far, investigators don’t have a lot to go on.

“We know that it was two groups of people that had some sort of verbal altercation that unfortunately resulted in this violence,” Hober said.

Officers have stepped up their patrols after sunset on streets near the beach where bonfires aren’t allowed after 10 p.m.

“We will continue to look into those areas and ensure that people that are there and on our beautiful beach are obeying the law,” Hober said.

This is the second homicide of the year in Monterey, and it’s left some people who live nearby feeling uneasy.

“I didn’t think it could happen here. Maybe down in Seaside, but not here,” resident Chad Stoeberl said.

Hober said he wants to ease the public’s concern and is hoping someone will step forward with details that will lead police to the person responsible.

The Sand City Police Department is still searching for the suspect or suspects who shot two men while they were driving down Highway 1 Sunday morning near the Fremont exit.

Police said the driver was able to drive to a nearby Valero gas station. Khaleel Johnson, 19, died at the scene. A second victim was taken to Natividad Medical Center. Officers tell us that the victim underwent surgery and is still at the hospital. Investigators said that shooting is gang-related.