Family members of victims grieve, remember loved ones at Monterey County D.A. ceremony
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV): Family members of people killed in separate incidents across Monterey County were remembered during a ceremony held near the courthouse on Friday.
Of those honored were the Soledad cousins killed in a shooting that has since been connected to a mass shooting in King City.
"My son was just going for a ride and he never came back," said Silvia Garcia. She's the mother of Andres Salvador Garcia, who was killed along with his cousin Jack Conchola.
The cousins were killed in an apparent case of mistaken identity, according to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office.
"I hope they find those responsible," said Jack Conchola.
Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni said this event, now in its 25th year, is designed to remember not just the people killed, but also the family members and their grief.
"It's an opportunity for them to come together as survivors and feel the love and support from the community for the loss that they've been going through," said Pacioni.
Garcia's sister, Ivonne, said she wants people to remember her brother and cousin and who they were while they were alive.
"My brother was very cheerful and liked having fun and serving in the church...my cousin was a good person, too," said Ivonne. "I'm not the same as before. I used to be very happy."
