UPDATE: Salinas gang member found guilty of killing 6-year-old boy
UPDATE 12/14/2015 11:47 AM: On Monday, a Monterey County jury found Bernardo Camacho guilty of first degree murder for the killing of a 6-year-old boy during a drive-by shooting in Salinas in 2010.
The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office said Camacho was convicted of killing Azahel Cruz during a gang shooting, when a stray bullet went through his East Salinas home.
Prosecutors also said Camacho was found guilty of several allegations including the crime was premeditated, that it happened during a drive-by shooting, a gun was used and he did it representing his gang affiliation.
Camacho will be sentenced Jan 20 and faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
PREVIOUS STORY: On Friday, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office said it is one step closer to justice in themurder of a 6-year-old Salinas boy as one defendant pleads guilty. However the boy’s family is not satisfied with how the case is being handled.
Two gang members face murder charges in Azahel Cruz’s death. On Friday, Edmundo Pulido pleaded guilty. But family members said that’s not enough.
Cruz was shot in the head four years ago, when a stray bullet went through his East Salinas home. Prosecutors said Pulido was the driver and Bernardo Camacho pulled the trigger in the incident. Allegedly, they meant to shoot at rival gang members but fired a bullet inside Cruz’s home on East Laurel Drive.
The park where the initial confrontation happened between the rival gangs is now named after Cruz in honor of his childhood. On Friday, Pulido plead guilty to Cruz’s murder. Last spring NewsChannel 5 sat down with his mom Maria Alcantar, just after Pulido was charged.
“Mad, angry. I cannot do anything about this guy. There’s a lot of pain in my heart,” Alcantar said.
On Friday we spoke with her by phone. She’s not happy with the way Pulido and Camacho’s cases are being handled. But last year she said she was grateful for the work Salinas police put into the investigation.
Police Chief Kelly McMillin said in the months leading to Cruz’s death, Salinas had been unusually peaceful.
“So when this shooting did happen, well that was one thing. But then to have it be so tragic and such a truly, truly innocent victim, really had a devastating impact not only inside the police department but in the community,” McMillin said.
Pulido will avoid a trial with his guilty plea. Camacho’s plea remains not guilty. Both Pulido and Camacho are also facing murder charges in the 2010 slaying of an 18-year-old in Castroville. On Friday, Pulido also pleaded guilty in that case as well.
