Salinas Police Arrest One Suspect, Still Looking for Another
Suspect turned herself in after seeing herself on local television
SALINAS—The Salinas Police were looking for 21-year-old King City resident Angela Zuniga and 23-year-old Salinas resident Leslie Denise Rico for their part in the May 17 slaying of a 14-year-old boy.
Leslie Rico
Investigators with the Salinas Police Department decided to uses local television to help locate the two suspects. The two were featured on Manhunt Mondays on KION in Salinas. Rico, seeing herself on television, decided to turn herself into the police.
On June 11, she was taken into custody, transported to the Monterey County Jail, and booked on charges of homicide with gang enhancements. Police are still looking for her accomplice, Angela Zuniga, and believe that she could be hiding in the King City or San Ardo Areas.
Angela Zuniga
“This type of thing, although it does not happen all the time, does happen,” Salinas Police Spokesperson Miguel Cabrera said, “We are seeing more women taking on violent gang crime than in the past, when they were taking on a more passive role.”
The two were wanted in connection to a May 17th homicide of 14-year-old Ricardo Ruiz in east Salinas. According to police, Ruiz was walking with friends when Zuniga and Rico approached them and challenged the group’s gang affiliation.
When Ruiz claimed to be a gang member, Zuniga stabbed him in the neck and then fled the scene. Ruiz was taken to a local hospital but later died after being taken off life support on May 22nd.
Anyone who may have information on the whereabouts of Angela Zuniga is encouraged to contact The Salinas Police Department’s Investigation Unit at 831-758-7226. They can remain anonymous by calling 831-775-4222.
Read more:
The Herald – Monterey County: Police briefs: Suspect in youth’s slaying turns herself in
Monterey County Weekly: Suspect in Salinas Murder Turns Herself In
