Man Accused of Gunning Down Seven at Salinas Restaurant May Face Death Penalty

A 21-year-old man accused of killing three people and gunning down four more at a Salinas taqueria early Monday may face the death penalty, according to prosecutors.

Giovanni Pacheco, standing before a judge in the Monterey County Superior Court this afternoon, pleaded not guilty to eight felony charges, including three counts of premeditated murder and four counts of attempted murder.

Pacheco is eligible for the death penalty because of the multiple deaths, says Ronaldo Mazariegos, a deputy district attorney. A decision on that will be made after the preliminary trial setting.

The prosecutor says the crime is not being pursued as a gang-related incident now, though the possibility is being investigated. Pacheco, who has a felony history of firearm possession, has been involved with the Norteño gang, Mazariegos says.

“It was a taco shop in Salinas,” he says. “Many of the people had just been partying.”

The shooting was around 1:30am at Tacos Choice, a popular restaurant in an East Salinas shopping complex. A DJ working at the time said there were about 30 customers at the restaurant during the incident, which took place in the parking lot.

A 22-year-old man was found dead at the scene, and two men, 25 and 28, were taken taken to a hospital where they died of injuries. Three other men, all in their twenties, and a 53-year-old woman were treated for injuries.

The suspect used a .45-caliber handgun during the shooting, Mazariegos says. The eighth charge, in addition to the charges of murder and attempted murder, is felon in possession of a firearm. 

Pacheco is being represented by Public Defender Deana Davis. He’s due to appear in court again Aug. 15.

Nic Coury contributed to this report.