Salinas Police Investigating Suspected Gang-Related Shooting - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

SALINAS, Calif. -- Salinas police said a 16-year-old was shot in the leg in an apparent gang-related shooting Monday night on the 800 block of Cari Court.

Police responded to a report of a gunshot victim at about 9:00 Monday night and roped off an area in front of a home at the intersection of Cari and Atlantic.  A witness who was standing outside said she had heard about six gunshots.  

Police said two teenagers were standing in a driveway and were approached by two men who asked if they were gang members.  When both victims said they weren't, the suspects pulled out handguns and started shooting.  The 16-year-old was struck in the lower leg and a 17-year-old was uninjured.

The 16-year-old victim, who was rolled out on a stretcher with a bloodied bandage on his left leg, was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police said they have limited suspect information.  A block away from the shooting, police had pulled over a Suburban after it matched a rough suspect description provided by some witnesses, but it was determined it was not related to the investigation.

This is the third shooting within a roughly half-mile area since Friday.  Joel Flores Amador, 18, was shot and killed at Acosta Plaza on Friday night by two men who police said carjacked a vehicle to get away and torched it north of the city.  The next day, two people were shot at after someone yelled "Plaza" three times on Elkington Avenue.  Nobody was hit.  Police said they believe those two shootings are connected.

Anyone with information regarding any of these crimes is asked to contact the Salinas Police Department at 831-758-7321 or the anonymous tip-line at 831-758-7273 or We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME.