SOLEDAD, Calif. - "There wasn't a day that I didn't go through there that I didnt think about that incident," said Soledad Police Chief Eric Sills.
Soledad's Police Chief Eric Sills said the double murder in the Foods Co. parking lot in September shook the small community's sense of normalcy about a simple trip to the grocery store. But on Wednesday, police got some new information and a big break in the investigation. It's information we first brought you as breaking news earlier Wednesday night.
Officers made an arrest after a tip on the getaway car led police to a 19-year-old Soledad man. Police said 19-year-old Jorge Angel Rodriguez pulled the trigger and is in jail, charged with two counts of murder and one charge of attempted murder. On Wednesday night, we went back to Foods Co., to find out if Rodriguez's arrest is easing some people's fears.
"It's the only grocery store we have here. So I didn't have much choice," said Foods Co. shopper Amber Clark.
Clark said she wasn't in the parking lot the night of the shooting. But she said it had a ripple affect on everyone in Soledad.
"A lot of people said they're never coming again at night. You know, forget that, they're not coming shopping here again," Clark said.
That night 55-year-old Maria Del Refugio Monroy and 58-year-old Silverio Perez Selendon were shot and killed in their car after a shopping trip at Foods Co. with their 19-year-old son. Chief Sills said Soledad and Greenfield Police Departments worked together to arrest Rodriguez-a known gang member. Chief Sills said with the help of witnesses, Rodriguez was identified in a photograph line up. He said it's a night none of them are able to forget.
"Unsettling to the city, to the residents because it was a very busy parking lot, it's a very busy area. We had not had any major incidents in that area," said Chief Sills.
Shoppers we spoke with on Wednesday night in that same parking lot said the arrest is easing some of their fears.
"It's more comforting to know that the police are actually cracking down and catching these people. Especially when you know I come to the grocery store and I bring my kids with me," said shopper Leticia Tejeda.
Chief Sills said now he's hoping more people will come forward with information.
"We still have additional suspects possibly in this case that we're looking at. But at least having made one arrest, we're heading in the right direction," said Chief Sills.
Police said they're looking for two to three more. But they aren't able to give out a lot of information because it's still an open investigation.
If you have any information on the shooting call the Soledad Police Department at 831-2223-5166 or the WeTIP line at 800-782-7463. You could get a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.
Jorge Angel Rodriguez
