UPDATE: King City asks for regional law enforcement help to patrol city

UPDATE 5/5/2015: Residents in King City said they’ve had enough, after a violent weekend resulting in two homicides. NewsChannel 5 spoke with one man who is trying to promote a take back our town effort.

Recent South County violence has residents in King City wanting to do something about it. Mark Dehart has lived in King City for years and he said unfortunately violence in his community is nothing new.

“Two violent crimes happening back to back we decided it was time to get together as a community in support of our local City Council, and see what we can do to help,” Dehart said.

Travis Michael Thommarson, 25, was killed in a shooting Friday night on 2nd Street and another was in critical condition. That shooting more than 600 people joined an online group called “Take Back Our Town.” The group’s goal is to raise money to stop violence.

Then Sunday night another homicide, this time on Bishop Street that took the life of Luis Fernandez Aldape, 19, as he sat in a car. A 4-year-old child narrowly missed being hit by the gun fire. These shootings fell under sheriff deputy watch and the mayor said it’s a reminder to get police officer positions filled as soon as possible.

The King City Police Department has five open positions and the interim Chief Tony Solicito said they need to get up to full capacity in order to patrol the city full time. Sollicito said they are working with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office on both cases.

“We do have a homicide investigator at king city that we brought on a couple months ago and he is meeting with them to get information about those,” Solicito said.

Mayor Robert Cullen said the back to back shootings are frustrating.

“It is time for the community to come together and take a stand against violence,” Solicito said.

That’s what Dehart and others are doing.

“It’s going to take a community involvement, and that’s the big thing behind the group, get everybody involved,” Dehart said.

He and others plan to sell shirts that say “Take Back Our Town.” The money will go toward violence prevention in the city. The city said the police department is stepping up patrols and would like the community help in reporting what they see.

UPDATE 5/4/15 3:53p.m.: City leaders said they are taking immediate steps to bolster enforcement in King City after a series of shootings and two homicides in the city since Friday.

The King City Police Department and the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office says it has increased staffing and are actively investigating the shootings Friday and Sunday nights.

Sheriff investigators are working not only with both King City, but also Greenfield Police to see if that city’s homicide Saturday afternoon is connected to the shootings in King City.

King City has requested assistance from other jurisdictions including CHP, county probation and state parole departments as well as the county gang task force.

The city is also asking for the community’s help in solving the recent homicides.

City manager Michael Powers and Interim Police Chief Tony Sollecito issued a joint statement Monday afternoon saying in part “One of the victims was described as being “uncooperative”. This is unacceptable and our community must not stand for this mentality to stand. We must fundamentally change our community to make gangs unacceptable. We need you, our community, to make this change.”

You can contact the King City Police Department at (831) 385-4848, anonymously at (831) 386-5980, or at (800) 782-7463. You can also contact the Sheriff’s Office through theTip Line at (888)-833-4847. Or 1-800-WETIP (1-800-782-7463).

UPDATE 5/3/2015: One person is dead after a second deadly shooting in King City this weekend, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies said Sunday’s shooting happened in the 600 block of Bishop Street around 8:45 p.m. During their response to the call, deputies said they found Luis Fernandez Aldape, 19, Efrain Ramirez, 19, and a four year old boy inside a car, stopped in the middle of the street.

Deputies said both Aldape and Ramirez had been shot and Aldape died at the scene. Ramirez was taken to Mee Memorial Hospital and later air lifted to Natividad Medical Center, deputies said.

The four year old boy was shaken up but not hurt, deputies said. He was removed from the car to avoid any further trauma.

Deputies said they have no suspect information. This marks the second homicide of 2015 for King City.

5/2/15 2:46p.m.: One person was killed and a second person is in serious condition following a Friday night Shooting in King City, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

At about 11 p.m. deputies responded to a report of a shooting on the 400 block of 2nd Street. Upon arrival deputies said they found Travis Michael Thommarson, 25, of King City lying in the street. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Sheriff’s Office said a second victim, Carlos Felipe Camacho, 20 of Greenfield, was taken by private vehicle to Mee Memorial Hospital. When deputies arrived at the hospital, they said he was being prepared to be rushed to Natividad Medical Center.

Camacho is listed in serious condition, deputies said.

Witnesses told investigators that two men wearing dark colored hoodies were seen fleeing the area on foot after shooting both victims.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Sgt. Terry Kaiser or Investigator Rick Jorgensen at 831-755-3772 or the Tip Line 888-833-4847.