Second suspect arrested in shooting death of man found on San Juan Grade Road
MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) UPDATE MARCH 25, 2022 at 12:02 p.m.-- The Monterey County Sheriff's Office said they arrested a second suspect in relation to a man found dead on San Juan Grade road in early February.
Vicente Alejandro Aguirre, 28, of Salinas was arrested in "a brutal attack that looked to be an execution" that took the life of 20-year-old Anthony Joel Suarez, according to the sheriff's office.
On March 23, the S.W.A.T team was sent to the 300 block of Front Street to Aguirre's residence.
Aguirre climbed a four-story balcony in an attempt to escape capture but was caught after a lengthy foot pursuit by a K-9.
Aguirre was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries sustained during his arrest.
He was booked and interrogated following his release for murder charges.
Both suspects in this murder case are believed to be gang members and the motive of the crime appears to be gang-related, according to law officials.
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A suspect in the shooting death of a man found lying on San Juan Grade Road has been arrested.
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office confirmed to KION that the suspect, Adam Villareal, has been charged with murder in the death of Anthony Suarez.
Suarez was found shot to death near the Crazy Horse Canyon intersection on Valentine's Day earlier this year.
It was the first homicide that the sheriff's office was investigating for the year.
Villareal is being charged with violation of his probation, grand theft from a person, murder and participating in a gang.
Villareal pleaded not guilty in court in his first hearing and is scheduled to reappear in court in April.
His bail is set at $3,000,000 and he was booked on March 12.
ORIGINAL STORY
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office is investigating their first murder of the year.
Investigators say Anthony Suarez, 20, of Salinas was found shot to death on the side of San Juan Grade Rd. near the intersection of Crazy Horse Canyon Monday morning.
"At about 7:50 in the morning, we got a call for what the person driving by thought was just an unresponsive male on the side of the road on upper San Juan Grade Road," said Chief Deputy John Thornburg with the Monterey County Sheriff's Office.
Thornburg says the body was found near mile markers 7 and 8. He was already dead when deputies arrived.
The Sheriff's Office says an abandoned car was also found near Suarez's body, but it is unknown if it belonged to him.
"We're in the very early stages of this investigation, figuring out why was he there? Who was he hanging out with?" said Thornburg.
Investigators don't know if the victim was shot where his body was found, or if he had been moved there. But this isn't the first time something like this has happened in the area.
"Unfortunately, we have had a couple of cases in the same area, very similar. So I'm sure by the time the detectives are done with this, and an arrest is made, we'll be able to answer that question," added Thornburg.
It is unknown if Suarez had any gang ties or how many times he was shot. The Sheriff's Office also says they do not have a suspect at this point.
Anyone who may have seen something or has information related to this shooting is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office.
This is an ongoing investigation and this article will be updated as new details are made available.
