Neighbors suspect gang violence was behind deadly shooting in Salinas
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Salinas Police said they found three people with gun shot wounds on Cross Avenue near Bardin Road Friday night after 11 pm.
A 20-year-old and 17-year-old were already dead when they got there and another 17-year-old is in stable condition at the hospital.
Police shared the name of one of the victims, 20-year-old Jesus Guido, but nothing about the circumstances of the shooting.
“You're going to look at the headline and you're going to think it's gang violence just because of all the stories, all of our family, all of our, all of our friends that have gone down that route,” said Angelo Raya Medrano of Salinas.
He said, sadly he’s not surprised to hear this happened, especially in the Alisal neighborhood.
“It's a story we've all heard, and growing up, you know, you can't wear red shoes, blue shoes,” he said.
Earlier this month, a bakery on the same block was robbed at gunpoint, and neighbors say that’s still not the full picture of their worries.
"Some people drive really fast right there. They not respect the lives of people, crossing the street. They not, its not safe," said neighbor Carlos Cortes.
Violence in Alisal goes back decades.
“This part of Salinas, you know, was notorious for gang violence back in the 90s. I mean, Bill Clinton came and gave a speech, in downtown in 1994, and he was talking about how we need to clean up,” said Raya Medrano.
A lot of people agree, however, that it's not as bad as it was.
“We’ve definitely gotten better, the new developments, the rising housing costs, definitely push down on a lot of gang related activity... you see so many more people walking around different areas that some people wouldn’t," said Angelo's brother Diego.
Salinas Police reported just 6 murders last year. Ten years ago they reported 40.
Angelo said until there’s more investment in Alisal, with safety nets for the youth, gang violence won’t just go away.
“You can fill these streets with police and try and get that lockdown unless the issue of class inequality, of housing, of food inequalities, also of job inequalities… you have more stress, more pressure, you don’t care… and then you take up arms, you have that issue with each other, and you just, you just die.”
Investigators are still trying to pin down a potential suspect and figure out what led up to the shooting. Police are expected to share an update next week.
