Police identify Cannery Row homicide victim

UPDATE 11/24/2016 12:50 PM:

People who live near Cannery Row said they felt uneasy after a man was shot and killed there early Wednesday morning.

Monterey police says Raul Melendez, 28, was found shot in the parking garage on the 600 block of Wave Street. Police said it appears Melendez was singled out, but no motive has been determined. They said the last homicide in the Cannery Row area of Monterey happened in 1991.

“I’ve heard of shootings before in the Monterey downtown area, but not this close to this area or Pacific Grove,” resident Jeff Burr said. “Nothing like that.”

“Shocked,” resident John Samra said. “I’d say this is a highly unusual thing to happen, especially on Cannery Row, especially a very friendly community.”

Police are equally surprised, especially for a shooting to happen on what they consider a quiet week day, but they believe it was an isolated incident.

“Nobody else was shot at that we are aware of,” Lt. Mike Bruno said. “And so we don’t know if it’s a dispute between individuals or what the reason is but it doesn’t appear that someone was out shooting random people.”

Monterey police are now working with the Peninsula Regional Violence and Narcotics Team (PRVNT) to find leads and a motive.

UPDATE 11/23/16 11:15 AM: Monterey Police released the name of the man shot and killed early Wednesday morning in the Cannery Row Parking Garage in the 600 block of Wave Street.

The victim was identified as Raul Melendez, 28, from Monterey.

Officers responded to a report of gunshots at approximately 1:41 a.m. and found Melendez suffering from several gunshot wounds. Police say it appears Melendez was singled out, although no motive has been determined.

Melendez was taken to Natividad Medical Trauma Center in Salinas, where he succumbed to his injuries

According to police, the last homicide in the Cannery Row area of Monterey happened in 1991.

UPDATE 11/23/16 9:40 AM: Monterey police are investigating a fatal shooting thqt happened early Wednesday morning in a parking structure on Wave Street near Cannery Row.

Police responded to the scene around 1:40 a.m. and found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas, where he later died.

Police closed the parking structure and blocked several streets but couldn’t find a suspect. The parking structure and streets were later reopened.

There are no known suspsects, but investigators told KION’s Sophia Miraglio they are hopeful surveillance video will offer clues. Police do not believe the homicide is gang related.

UPDATE 11/23/16 6:03 AM: Officials confirm the victim has died at the hospital.

PREVIOUS STORY: Monterey Police are on scene at a shooting that happened overnight on Wave Street in Monterey’s Cannery Row.

According to Monterey Police they found a young adult male on the ground suffering from apparent gunshot wounds right inside the parking garage.

He has been transported to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas.