Suspect in Salinas homicide on S. Main Street pleads not guilty

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) The suspect in a homicide that happened on S. Main Street in Salinas, 26-year-old Samuel Mendoza, pleaded not guilty at a hearing Tuesday.

Mendoza is accused of shooting and killing 22-year-old Rafael Jose Pineda in the Lucky parking lot following an argument between a group of people. Another person, a 26-year-old man, was shot in the leg during the incident and survived.

The suspect turned himself in to Salinas police the day after the shooting.

Mendoza's next court date is set for October 22nd 10 a.m.

His bail is currently set at $1.35 million.