Fight Ends with Three Dead and Four Others Injured

SALINAS — The Salinas Police have arrested a suspect in an early Monday morning shooting that left three dead and five others injured.  They have identified and arrested 21-year-old Salinas resident Giovanni Pacheco as the lone gunman that opened fire on the crowd.

Giovanni Pacheco

Salinas Police responded to the ‘Taco’s Choice’ restaurant on Williams Road in Salinas on a report of multiple victims of a shooting.  Once police reached the scene, they found a 22-year-old victim dead from numerous gunshot wounds.

They also found two more victims, one 28 and the other 25.  The 28 year-old victim was transported to a local hospital where he died from his wounds. The 25 year-old victim remains in critical condition from life threatening injuries.

A 52-year-old female was transported to the hospital where she is recovering from her injuries.

There were two other victims that had single gunshot wounds that were transported by an ambulance or private vehicle to a local hospital and treated for their non-life threatening injuries.

There were a total of seven shooting victims in this incident.  An investigation revealed that a fight had started inside the restaurant and spilled out into the parking lot.  That is when Pacheco pulled out a handgun and fired into the crowd.  The crime is being investigated as gang related.

“We spotted his vehicle leaving his residence,” Salinas Police Commander Dave Shaw said, “His vehicle was stopped on Del Monte Avenue and he was taken into custody without incident.”

Pacheco faces charges of two counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.

UPDATE: The 25-year-old victim who was in critical condition died of his wounds on Monday at 5 p.m.

Read More:

Santa Cruz Sentinel- Rash of Shootings Don’t Fit the Mold in Salinas

San Jose Mercury News- Shooting at Salinas Taco Shop Kills 3, Injures 4