Arrest made in May Salinas double homicide

UPDATE: 8/03/2017 5:30 P.M.: Salinas Police have arrested a man in connection to a double homicide on Garner Avenue back in May.

Thursday detectives arrested 19-year-old Juan Soto as he left his home on the 1000 block of Santa Ana Road in Hollister.

Detectives were able to establish that Soto was the driver of the vehicle at the double homicide on Garner Avenue on May 15th. 41-year-old Emilio Barrera and 28-year-old Antonio Ortega were killed in the homicide.

Soto has also been identified as the driver in a separate attempted murder on May 1st at Mae and Towt Streets. A 14-year-old male was stabbed after being asked what gang he belonged to while walking home .

Soto was booked into Monterey County Jail on two counts of homicide and one count of attempted homicide.

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According to the Salinas Police Department, Monday night’s shootings in East Salinas marked the 17th and 18th homicides of the year and are being investigated as gang related.

ShotSpotter detected five shots in the 1300 block of garner avenue just before 8:30 p.m. Monday night. Officers responded to the scene and found 41-year-old Emilio Barrera and 28-year-old Antonio Ortega suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers tried to help, but unfortunately both died on scene. “We have very limited information at this time. There was possibly information about a red honda prelude seen leaving the area. So if anyone has information we want to hear from them. We need their help,” said SPD Commander John Murray. These deaths mark the third homicide in the area over the last three days. One person was killed less than a mile away on Saturday.

UPDATE: 5/15/17 10:52 P.M.: Salinas Police confirm the two adult men shot Monday night have died. Their names will not be released until family has been notified. Shot Spotter detected five shots. A red Honda Prelude was seen leaving the crime scene. Anyone with information is asked to call police.

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Two people were shot in Salinas Monday night.

It happened on the 1300 block of Garner Avenue just after 8:30 p.m.

The condition of the victims is unknown at this time.

This shooting happened less than a mile from a homicide over the weekend where one person was shot and killed on Paloma Avenue Saturday night.