Most violent week in Salinas so far this year

This week was Salinas’ most violent week since the beginning of the year. Four homicides and no arrests have been made.

As the week comes to an end, city leaders came together to share ideas about how to stop the killings.

Council Member Tony Barrera led the conference saying ending the violence starts at home.

“Let’s be a parent, not a best friend,” Barrera said. “Let’s be disciplinarian. Let’s hold our children accountable. It doesn’t matter who we are… and if I can upset parents today that is what I want to do,” Barrera said.

Standing in support of Barrera was Linda Gavino. Her son was killed in January in Salinas’ first homicide of the year. There’s been a total of 15 homicides.

“He was walking down the street to the corner store when they decided to come by and shot him,” Gavino said.

Tonight on KION, we’ll hear more from Gavino and one man who’s trying to make a difference in the schools. KION’s Paul Dudley reports at 5 and 6 p.m.