Salinas Police arrested two suspects in connection with a homicide that occurred on Monday, April 27 in East Salinas near a laundromat. Both suspects are teenage boys, ages 14 and 17.
The Monterey County District Attorney’s office has filed murder charges against both. Because they are currently being prosecuted in juvenile court, their names have not been released to the public. They both entered a plead of not guilty on Thursday, April 30. The next hearing is set on Thursday, May 7 at 8:30am.
“We are seeking to transfer the 17-year-old to adult court. The law does not permit us to seek transfer to adult court for 14-year-olds, regardless of the crime they commit,” says Lana Nassoura, assistant district attorney.
Nassoura adds the DA's Office saw a 186-percent increase in filings for cases of attempted murder and murder by juveniles in 2024 compared to the previous year.
“We noticed that the ages for those committing those crimes has gone younger and younger,” Nassoura adds, noting the most common age in 2023 was 17, and in 2024 it was 16.
The homicide occurred at about 6:50am on Monday, April 27. Police officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert and multiple calls on the 900 block of North Sanborn Road. They found a victim suffering from several gunshot injuries, who later died on the scene. He was Joel Gonzalez, a 22-year-old Salinas resident. At about 4pm later that same day, investigators arrested the two minors.
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