SALINAS, Calif - After an 8-month investigation Salinas Police have charged two people for the murder of a Salinas teenager gunned down in 2011 Tuesday night.
According to Salinas Police, Edgar Gomar, 20, was one of the gunmen involved in the August 31, 2011, shooting that killed Bryan Zamudio, 18. Zumido was shot and killed in the bathrooms at Monterey County Veteran's Memorial Park on East Laurel Drive. At the time, witnesses were able to provide the license plate number of the suspect vehicle. Detectives believe the homicide was in retaliation for another gang related homicide that occurred the night before.
The suspect vehicle was registered to Maria Luna, 20, the last known person to have possession of the vehicle. When Luna disappeared after the shooting, she abandoned her three-year-old son, leaving him with her mother. The child was turned over to the biological father shortly thereafter. The vehicle was found in Watsonville, abandoned, a week later.
On October 29, 2011, Luna went to her mother's home while Luna's son was visiting and took him without permission or knowledge of the father. Police released a warrant for child concealment.
On Friday, May 4th, Luna's attorney called the Salinas Police Department to make arrangements for the child to be returned to the father and for Luna to be questioned regarding the homicide. A week later Luna appeared in court and turned the child to the father. She also voluntarily went to the police department to answer questions about the homicide. After questioning, Luna was able to leave but voluntarily came back on Tuesday for a re-interview. Based on the information gathered by detectives about her involvement in the homicide and the inconsistencies in the information provided in Luna's interview, she was arrested and booked into Monterey County Jail for homicide and gang enhancements. Detectives asked the court and received a bail enhancement to $2 million.
During an 8-month investigation into the death of Bryan Zamudio, physical evidence collected at the crime scene, coupled with interviews of witnesses, led Salinas Police detectives to believe Edgar Gomar, to be one of the shooters in homicide. Gomar is a known gang member and is in custody at the Monterey County Jail on an unrelated matter. Although Gomar has been a suspect for some time, Tuesday, detectives went to the Monterey County Jail and booked him for homicide and gang enhancements.
Maria Luna
Edgar Gomar
