UPDATE: Teens charged with murder plead not guilty in Salinas teen’s death
UPDATE: The Monterey County District Attorney’s office said three teens charged in the shooting death of a Salinas teen pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning. Jose Guadalupe Diaz, 18, is being held in the Monterey County Jail.
Two more suspects, both 17, are also charged in the murder of Cesar Gonzalez, 17. Law enforcement officials do not release the names of juveniles, but they are in this case because they’re being tried as adults. Prosecutor Christine Harter said Jesus Gutierrez, 17, and Victor Ramirez, 17, said both will be held in juvenile hall.
All three are scheduled to appear in court on March 27th for a preliminary hearing.
PREVIOUS STORY: Salinas Police say acting on tips, detectives have arrested three suspects in the fatal shooting on January 13th
17-year-old Cesar Gonzalez was killed at his home on East Market Street just before 6p.m. At that time witnesses described seeing a gray van with three occupants stop in front of the house. Detectives say shots were fired towards the house, and the van sped away.
After receiving valuable leads, Salinas Police say detectives have worked shifts of up to 20 hours with no days off, investigating leads and associated physical evidence.
The Violence Suppression Unit, Monterey County Probation, State Parole and agents from the Monterey County STING Task Force have all worked the investigation as well.
On Tuesday, police arrested 18-year-old Jose Guadalupe Diaz. The next day on Wednesday, a 16-year-old was arrested, and Thursday the final suspect, a 17-year-old was arrested.
All three suspects live in Salinas. Detectives say all three were directly involved in the shooting and all three were booked for murder with gang enhancements.
Diaz was booked into Monterey County Jail and the juveniles were booked into Monterey County Juvenile Hall.
Police say the suspects are involved in criminal street gangs and on the night of the shooting were driving through the neighborhood searching for rival gang members to shoot.
Salinas Police Investigators are still actively investigating this case and want to speak with anyone who may have information about it.
People with information can call Detective Gabe Gonzalez at 831-758-7127 or Detective Byron Gansen at 831-758-7137. Those who want to remain anonymous can call the Salinas Police Department Anonymous Tip line at 831-775-4222 or the WeTip line at 1-800-78-CRIME.
In the past week Salinas Police have arrested the following people for gang activity in the city:
January 20th: Figueroa Orlando Martinez (27) and Oscar Martin (20) who are both criminal street gang members for possession of a loaded, sawed off, single shot shotgun in the area of North Sanborn Rd and E. Alisal St. Both suspects are known gang members and both were booked into Monterey County Jail on a variety of felonies and gang enhancements.
January 17th: Jose Christian Regalado (18) for shooting a 13 year old boy on Santa Rita St. Regalado was also a known gang member and booked at the Monterey County Jail for attempted murder and gang enhancements.
