Peninsula Cold Case Project opens two 2014 homicide investigations

UPDATE 05/05/17 6:00 p.m.: “They’ve torn my family apart. I’ve had one sister that just lost her mind completely,” said Susie Banks, who lost her son in 2014.

Banks and her family are in disbelief that the suspect is still at large.

“We still don’t understand why just by knowing the type of person my brother was, and you know, him minding his own business on his way to work,” said Banks’ daughter Elizabeth Jacobs.

Investigators said 28-year-old Andre Jacobs was killed at 5 a.m. on July 3, while walking down Elm Avenue in Seaside.

And just a couple of months before, on April 16th 2014, a man was shot to death at Shawnee Court.

Seaside police say 35-year-old Khalik Kennedy was leaving a house gathering to get his car when he was shot at multiple times.

On Thursday, Central Coast investigators with the Peninsula Cold Case Project, announced they will revisit both cases, individually and together, to see if they are connected.

“They both occurred in 2014. There were similar circumstances where they were both victims who were on foot,” said Ethan Andrews, with the Monterey Peninsula Regional Violence and Narcotics Team.

Both homicides happened during a particularly violent year for the area.

Seaside saw six murders in 2014, compared to 4 in 2013, two in 2012 and none in 2011.
“There were a number of homicides, shootings and stabings that we believe were related to two feuding gangs,” Andrews said.

Investigators didn’t go into detail but said they’re putting new energy into cases they believe have a good chance of being solved.

Banks is hoping for clarity, sooner than later.

“Please, please, please, don’t open up our wound and put salt on it,” Banks said. “Find them, prosecute them to the fullest.”

PREVIOUS STORY: A Seaside man, Khalik Kennedy, 35, was shot and killed while walking to his parked car in April. Three months later, Andre Jacobs, 28, was stabbed to death on the city’s street.

Officers said they are investigating these cases individually and together to see if there is a nexus.

“They both occurred in 2014. There were similar circumstances where they were both victims who were on foot,” said Ethan Andrews with Monterey Peninsula Regional Violence and Narcotics Team.

The two victims died in a particularly violent year for the Monterey Peninsula, and it’s especially the case for the city of Seaside.

“There were a number of homicides, shootings and stabings that we believe were related to two feuding gangs,” Andrews said.

Andrews said the Cold Case Project selects cases with a strong likelihood of being resolved, and closing Christina Williams’ murder case has freed them up for other investigations.

Andrews would not discuss specifics of those cases but said officers are reviewing existing evidence and exploring leads.

Andrews also encouraged witnesses to come forward.

“We know there are people out there who have information on this case and other cases,” Andrews said. “We really strongly encourage you to come forward and assist us so that we can get closure on these cases, not only for the victims but for the families and the community.”