KION - Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz - News WeatherMonday Morning Shooting Leads to City's 26th Homicide

Monday Morning Shooting Leads to City's 26th Homicide

The Family for Jose Espinoza has set up a savings account at Wells Fargo to help pay for funeral expenses. The account number is 1304024548.

SALINAS, Calif - Around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday 25 year-old Jose Espinoza was shot and killed in front of his home on Lohman Street in North Salinas.

One witness said they heard about 5 shots fired. According to police, Espinoza was walking to his car to go to work when someone walked up to him and started shooting. When officers arrived they rendered aid to Espinoza but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say they are investigating this as gang related and that the victim did have a gang past. His boss at Monterey Mushrooms, Carlos Gutierrez, says that, "He was very intelligent, and always was asking what more he could do, very willing to work hard." 

Friends and family of Jose Espinoza say that he was trying to get out og the gang life style and they say that his past did not matter. "He was a nice person with everyone and honestly I had no idea he had been mixed up with gangs, but whatever the case, this is a terrible sin," said Gutierrez.

Central Coast News Anchor Marc Cota-Robles was on scene shortly after the shooting was reported and he says that the victim's brother was tackled by the police as he broke through the police tape trying to reach his brother's body. 

Witnesses described the suspect as a male, dressed in dark clothing and was last seen running eastbound on Lohman St. toward Eisenhower St. There also maybe a vehicle involved and was described as a dark colored sedan.

This is the city's 26th homicide, surpassing last year's record of 25 homicides. In an afternoon news conference Salinas Police Chief Louis Fetherolf said that they are investigating this homicide as they would any other, but that there are just too many homicides and not enough resources.  

Anyone with information related to the crime or who may have been a witness is encouraged to contact the Salinas Police Department, Detective Arensdorf at (831) 758-7137. If you would like to remain anonymous, you can call the Salinas Police Department Anonymous Tip Line at 831-775-4222, or the We-Tip Line at 1-800-78-CRIME, or text information to the Text Tip Line with the code "SPD831" to "847411".