Advertisement Shootings surge in Salinas as 17-year-old boy murdered Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A 17-year-old Salinas boy was fatally shot on C Street near Mae Avenue in Salinas just before 1 p.m. Wednesday."While the victim was able to speak to officers upon our arrival, his condition quickly deteriorated as medical personnel attempted to save his life," police Sgt. Christopher Lane said.Paramedics gave the victim CPR, and he died shortly after. His name was not released.The boy had been talking with a friend outside a residence when two gunmen approached and fired several rounds. The killers fled into a vehicle that was waiting nearby.The victim's friend was not injured."This is the 21st homicide in the city this year and the third in the last four days. Each of the last three homicides are being investigated as gang-related. It is too early in the investigations to definitively say they are related to each other," Lane said.Salvador Duran, 25, died at Natividad Medical Center Tuesday, two days after he was shot on North Main Street, Lane said. The gang-related shooting happened at 9 p.m. Sunday, police said."Duran was with friends in the area of the 2100 block of North Main Street when they were approached by at least two males. For unknown reasons, two males pulled out handguns and fired multiple rounds," Lane said.A third homicide happened on the 300 block of Iris Drive at 1:15 a.m. Monday. Manuel Hoyos, 28, was found dead in his car. He had been shot.No suspects were arrested in the three homicides."We've had three murders in the last week. There's a crisis in Salinas. We need an immediate plan from our mayor and City Council to boost police patrols and community policing," officer Jim Knowlton told KSBW Wednesday.The Salinas Police Department is asking witnesses with information to call Detective Schwener at (831) 758-7276 or Detective Currier at (831) 758-7125.PHOTOS: 2016 homicide victims----------------------------------------2016 homicide victims:1. Jan. 16: Ryan Christopher Contreras, 23, of Salinas, was shot numerous times on the 1000 block Atlantic St. He was pronounced dead at Natividad Medical Center. There were no witnesses at the scene.2. Jan. 26: Carlos Esteban Alfaro, 20, of Salinas, was walking on the 1000 block of Nogal Dr. near his house when he was confronted by a gunman. He was shot to death.3. Feb. 3: Edgar Navarro, 28, of Salinas, was gunned down in front of the Wash N' Dry Laundromat at 341 Williams Road. He lived nearby and often hung out in front of the laundromat. Police said he was a documented gang member.4. Feb. 4: Antonio Ramirez, 20, was burglarizing a house on the 1900 block of Cabernet Way when the homeowner returned home with his two young children. A man who was burglarizing the house with Ramirez fled. Police said Ramirez attacked the homeowner, and the homeowner killed Ramirez in hand-to-hand combat. The homicide was ruled as justified by the District Attorney.5. Feb. 16: Luis Alberto Lucas, 16, of Salinas, was shot on the 600 block Mae Avenue and died at the scene. He had been sitting with two 18-year-old men in a vehicle when all three were shot by someone in another vehicle. Police said the three victims were gang members.6. 7. March 13: Luis Cardiel San Pablo, 21, and his brother, Adair Cardiel San Pablo, 18, were shot to death on the 1000 block of Ramona Avenue.8. March 20: Ruben Estrada, 20, was shot to death during a party at a house on the 1100 block of Ranchero Drive. Party-goers fled from the house, and no one called 911 until half an hour later, police said. Estrada was found dead on the living room floor by officers. Estrada was not a gang member, and police do not know what motive was behind the killing.9. April 4: Jose Luis Valdez, 16, was walking to meet up with friends on the 800 block of Garner Avenue when he was gunned down by two shooters.10. April 6: Felipe Rocha Sandoval, 17, was shot to death outside the doorstep of an apartment at 912 Acosta Plaza. The brazen shooting happened in broad daylight, but few witnesses came forward to help police.11. Marcos Jesus Martinez-Ruiz, 27, of Salinas, was listening to music inside a parked car with a friend when they were both shot. Martinez-Ruiz died at the scene on Acosta Street near Machado Way.12. Cesar Ortiz Hernandez, 22, was shot to death near the entrance gate of 1054 Atlantic Street May 8.13. Mario Puga, 21, was gunned down while he was repairing a vehicle May 8.14. 15. Brian Yoder, 41, and Daniel Ramirez, 32, were both fatally shot on the 800 block of La Cuesta Court May 11.16. Jorge Matias, 20, was shot multiple times on Elkington Avenue June 18.17. Brian Carlton Todd, 49, was assaulted by a fellow homeless man on Soledad Street. Ben Udo Mboso was arrested on homicide charges. Police believe Todd owed Mboso money.18. Israel Tate Jr., 57, ran from a gunman who was chasing him in a sedan. Tate was gunned down in the driveway of 35 East Rossi Street. The shooting was not gang-related police said.19. Salvador Duran, 25, was shot on the 2100 block of North Main Street July 31. He was hanging out with friends when two men armed with guns opened fire on Duran. Duran died in a hospital two days later.20. Manuel Hoyos, 28, was found dead in his car on the 300 block of Iris Drive August 1. He had been shot.21. A 17-year-old boy was fatally shot on C Street August 3.