Salinas police arrest murder and carjacking suspect as victim's family grieves.

It was early on Sunday morning, just after 7am on Aug. 11, when Saul Guadalupe Santos was checking his car parked on North Main Street in Salinas. 

At 7:10am, Salinas police responded to reports of a man down in the roadway. They discovered Guadalupe Santos, 58, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to Natividad Medical Center but died from his injuries. 

"My dad was a loving, peaceful, hardworking and joyful man," his daughter, Jessica Santos-Ramos, wrote in a GoFundMe message, seeking $15,000 in support for burial expenses. 

"Our family is devastated as we never thought something like this would ever happen."

He is survived by his wife, three children, and three grandchildren. He was born in 1966 in Jalisco, Mexico.

Police say the suspect approached Guadalupe Santos, shot him multiple times, then drove quickly away in his Santos' blue Ford Explorer, which was later located on California Street. 

Four days later, on Thursday, Aug. 15, police had identified the suspect as 23-year-old Ismael Zendejas Lopez. SPD officers, along with members of the U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Taskforce, located Zendejas Lopez in Salinas and arrested him without incident. He was booked in Monterey County Jail on charges of murder, carjacking, possession of a narcotic controlled substance and driving without a license. Bail was set at $1 million.

Salinas police believe there are no more suspects, but note this investigation is still active. They encourage anyone with information to call Detective Alejandro Zamora at (831) 758-7148 or the anonymous tip line at (831) 775-4222.