Salinas police identify victim of homicide on S. Main Street
SALINAS, Calif. (KION)
UPDATE 10/9/2020 Salinas police have identified the 22-year-old man killed in a shooting Wednesday evening.
He is identified as Rafael Jose Pineda.
Pineda was killed in a shooting in a parking lot outside the Lucky Grocery Store on S. Main Street and a 26-year-old man was injured.
The suspect, 26-year-old Samuel Mendoza, turned himself into police Thursday.
UPDATE 10/8/2020 5:30 p.m. Salinas police confirm that the suspect in a deadly shooting Wednesday evening has turned himself in.
The suspect, 26-year-old Samuel Mendoza, is accused of shooting two people, one of whom died of their injuries, in a parking lot on South Main Street.
Mendoza was booked into the Monterey County Jail on murder and attempted murder charges.
UPDATE 10/8/2020 2 p.m. Salinas police say they are looking for a suspect wanted in connection to a deadly shooting Wednesday evening.
Police said 26-year-old Samuel Mendoza is wanted for murder.
Police responded to reports of multiple shots fired in the Lucky parking lot on South Main Street just before 8 p.m. Callers reported hearing shots, breaking glass and people running in different directions, and other callers reported a group of 5 to 6 people fighting before one pulled out a gun. There were gunshots after that, and they heard a man yelling, "I got shot!" before they saw a white Lexus leaving the area.
Investigators said two men and two women were hanging out and drinking before coordinating a meeting with an acquaintance and his friend. They planned to meet in the parking lot to buy beer, but they said there was an argument over the phone between the people in the cars as they drove there.
When everyone got to the parking lot, police said the argument continued and became physical. They said Mendoza pulled out a gun and fired several shots. A 26-year-old man was hit in the leg, and a 22-year-old man was hit in the torso. They were driven to a hospital where the 22-year-old died of his injuries.
Police said Mendoza was last seen leaving the area in a white Lexus sedan. Officers served a search warrant at a home in the 100 block of Lakewood Drive in Marina, and they found the car on that street.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Gabriela Contreras at 831-758-7971 or gabriega@ci.salinas.ca.us. To remain anonymous, call 831-775-4222.
PREVIOUS STORY: Shots were fired off South Main Street in Salinas Wednesday night, Salinas Police confirm with KION. The shooting was in the parking lot near the Lucky grocery store, which is between W. San Joaquin Street and Nissen Road.
Details are very limited and police have not released any information about a possible victim.
This is a developing story.
