Suspect identified in Chinatown homicide and person of interest in North Salinas HS student killing

Salinas Police said detectives have identified a suspect in the killing of a 44-year-old man in Chinatown last week. They said the same man is a person of interest in the killing of a 16-year-old earlier in September.

Detectives said Brad “Nicholas” Azcona, 23, is accused of killing Ramon Herrera, 44, in Chinatown at Market Way and Soledad St. on September 23. Herrera was shot multiple times.

Police said one person came forward providing details about what happened to Herrera. Witnesses said three Hispanic men confronted a fourth man, who pulled out a gun and fired at Herrera.

Detectives said Azcona is also a person of interest in the shooting and killing Carlos Robles, 16, in the 1500 block of Duran St. earlier this month.

Officers who responded to the scene said the incident was not gang-related. Robles was a sophomore at North Salinas High School where he served as a lineman for the varsity football team.

Detectives said Azcona is also suspected of an attempted armed robbery in North Salinas on September 23. Azcona is known to police for his lengthy criminal record in Salinas and is currently wanted by State Parole.

“We’ve been actively looking for him but we cannot find him,” said Vince Maiorana, Salinas police investigations commander. “So the public needs to be vigilant, if they see someone matching the description or know where he is they should not approach him. They should consider him armed and dangerous and a person that has violent tendencies. They should be calling 911 to report it to the police so we can take Brad into custody.”

Anyone with information on Azcona’s whereabouts is asked to call Salinas Police at 800-78-CRIME.Salinas Police said detectives have identified a suspect wanted for the murder of a man in Chinatown last week.