ABOVE: Suspect’s booking photo (Salinas PD)
SALINAS — Police have arrested a suspect in the fatal shooting of 38-year-old Santos Emilio Barriga, who was gunned down at his home on Sonora Way on the night of August 1st.
Police say that, just before 11 that night, Barriga answered a knock at his door and was confronted by the suspect, who allegedly drew a gun and began firing.
Barriga was struck in the back and later pronounced dead at Natividad Medical Center. According to police, a juvenile male was also shot at but escaped unharmed.
Witnesses said the suspects fled the scene in a dark sedan and were last seen traveling on westbound Chaparral Street towards North Main.
Salinas Police detectives were ultimately able to identify 27-year-old Jose Escalante Lamas as the shooter.
He remains in custody at the Monterey County Jail on multiple charges, including murder and attempted murder.
