UPDATE: Police identify victim of Sunday’s homicide in Salinas

UPDATE 8/30/16 6:45 AM: The victim of Sunday’s homicide has been identified as 29-year-old Jose Tacuba Cruz, according to the Salinas Police Department. Cruz was shot and killed while in the front yard of a house, cleaning up after a child’s party.

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Salinas Police are investigating the city’s second homicide in two days. The early Sunday morning fatal shooting is the 26th homicide in Salinas this year.

The 29 year old man had been at a child’s birthday party in the area of the 700 block of Elton Place. He went outside of a residence to clean up the front yard, according to police.

Shots were heard. The victim was found alone, shot multiple times. Police arrived at the scene around 1:30am Sunday.

The victim is a Salinas resident who worked as a laborer. The Salinas Police Department says it had only documented contact with the man, who’s name is being withheld until the family is notified.

“As with the homicide on Friday night, the incident is consistent with a gang related shooting but the victim does not appear to be a gang member,” according to the press release issued this morning by SPD.

There are no suspects at this time.