The two victims who died in the shooting in Moss Landing early on the morning of Monday, Nov. 2 were children.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims as 13-year-old Nathaniel “Nate” Flores and 15-year-old Marco Antonio Perez, both residents of Salinas according to Andres Rosas, a spokesperson for the Monterey County Sheriff's Office.
A GoFundMe has been created for Flores’ family, which noted he was on the Steinbeck Tigers Football & Cheer’s Midgets football team. As of publication, it has raised nearly $5,000 of its $26,000 goal to cover funeral and memorial expenses for the youth football player.
His 14th birthday was supposed to be this Friday, Nov. 6 according to the GoFundMe.
A GoFundMe has also been started to cover funeral costs for Perez, which has nearly raised its $5,000 goal. His death was tragic and unjust, says the GoFundMe page, and has left his loved ones grieving and in immense pain.
The Salinas Union High School district will be providing counseling support for students and staff, according to a statement to families from superintendent Zandra Jo Galvan.
Galvan asked for respect for the families’ privacy, as well as for people to be mindful about the impact of speculation about the incident on those who are grieving.
The shooting occurred just before 2am on Monday, Nov. 2 on Jetty Road, and left Flores and Perez dead, as well as two more injured. The Sheriff’s Office has not announced if anybody is in custody. The investigation remains underway.
Of the two non-fatal victims, one showed up to the hospital with injuries. The other was taken to the hospital from the scene with non-life threatening injuries. The identities and ages of the two people who went to the hospital have not been publicly released.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include additional information about the victims.