Salinas Police arrest a suspect five days after triple shooting that killed two young men.

Three young people were shot just after 11pm on Friday night, Sept. 19, on a residential block of Cross Avenue near Miami Street in Salinas. Two men, 20-year-old Jesus Guido Rosales and 17-year-old Edgar Gomez, died at the scene. Another 17-year-old was treated for gunshot injuries at Natividad Medical Center and is expected to make a full recovery. 

Police were alerted by a ShotSpotter activation to the shooting, and immediately began investigating. 

Five days later, at about 9pm on Wednesday night, Sept. 24, they arrested 18-year-old Marwuy Camacho on charges of murder and attempted murder, with gang enhancements. He remains in custody in Monterey County Jail. 

Salinas Police Chief Carlos Acosta announced the arrest on Sept. 25, and credited community cooperation and the use of technology.

"Without the community we are not going to solve any crime," he said. "Whether a personal Ring camera or a business camera, that is something that is very impactful." 

Gomez and the surviving 17-year-old were both current students in Salinas Union High School District, and 20-year-old Rosales was a former SUHSD student. In an email to the SUHSD community on Saturday, Sept. 20, SUHSD Superintendent Sandra Jo Galván wrote: "On behalf of our entire district, I extend my deepest condolences to the families, loved ones, friends, and school communities most directly impacted by this tragedy. Losing young lives in such a sudden and violent way is heartbreaking beyond words."

Schools would be offering additional counseling and crisis support, she added. "Out of respect for the grieving families, we ask our community to keep them in your hearts and prayers during this unimaginably painful time," Galván wrote. "We remain committed to standing alongside them with compassion, dignity, and unwavering care."

A GoFundMe campaign is raising money toward for funeral expenses for Rosales, who is described as "a beloved son, nephew, grandson, brother and boyfriend."

The case remains under investigation and Acosta said information about a potential motive and whether or not there was a relationship between the suspect and the victims is still unfolding. "Evidence suggests right now it was gang motivated," Acosta added. 

Camacho was previously known to police. Monterey County Superior Court records show that since he turned 18, he pleaded no contest to two felony charges, one from a case in December 2024 for concealing a weapon and then one in May 2025 for being a felon in possession of a firearm and evading a police officer. In both cases, he was subject to a court order to relinquish all firearms, most recently on July 1 of this year. (Court records show that he admitted in June to a probation violation of carrying a firearm.) 

No other suspects have been located and the investigation is still active. Acosta encouraged members of the public who may have seen or heard anything relevant to reach out. (The Salinas Police Department accepts anonymous tips at (831) 775-4222.) 

"We always want to emphasize to our community if they hear something or see something, they are an equal partnership—we know they want to be part of the solution," Acosta said. 

"This community has been plagued by violence, and the community and police department have worked really hard to curb that narrative. Shootings are significantly lower. This community has come a long way—it’s attributed to partnerships we’ve built and technology we have installed in this community that allows us to curb that narrative and change it."

Mayor Dennis Donohue also credited partnerships in community policing for helping SPD locate a suspect so quickly. The speed of the arrest, he said, was the result of cooperation from the public—"community partnerships and community policing have really changed that dynamic.

"When you take care of business quickly, that’s going to act as a deterrent," Donohue added. 

Data shows violent crime declining in Salinas. According to SPD's annual report, there were six homicides in 2024, a 45.5-percent decrease from the previous year. Police reported a 67-percent solve rate, better than the national average. 

Year to date in 2025, there have been five homicides, including the two on Friday night. That figure has been declining since there were 16 homicides in 2021, and 36 in 2016.

"The data is telling us there is a positive trend," Donohue said. "You still have to stay on guard."