LIVE OAK, Calif. -- Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputies spent hours processing three separate crime scenes connected with a homicide early Thursday, shutting down a busy roadway and re-directing traffic during the morning commute.
According to Lt. Craig Wilson, a shooting victim knocked on a door of the Emerald Bay Apartments at about 2:30 a.m. Thursday. Wilson said the victim, identified as Nathan Connally, 19, was shot near Dover Drive and stumbled across the street to the apartment building. Despite life-saving efforts, Connally died at the scene.
Connally, who was from Santa Cruz, reportedly had some troubles with the law. On July 11, 2011, he was featured on Manhunt Monday, wanted by Santa Cruz police in connection with a residential burglary.
Thursday, Soquel Drive between Stanley Avenue and Dover Drive was shut down for hours in both directions, part of a sprawling crime scene combed over by investigators. Officials recovered at least one shell casing on Soquel Drive and a piece of clothing was visible in the roadway hours after the shooting.
The body was covered in blankets and taped off as part of a separate crime scene in front of the L Building of the apartment complex. Other units in the back were also roped off as investigators collected evidence just steps away from a children's playground.
Deputy April Skalland said they were working against the bad weather Thursday morning, explaining that rain was "our enemy with evidence on the ground, so that's why we have to work fast and collect all the evidence that we can."
Detectives are pursuing a number of leads, but no suspect is in custody. As officials continue to investigate, they urge anybody with information on this case to call the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office at (831) 454-2311 or the anonymous tipline at (831) 454-2847.
