Salinas Man Killed While Returning Home From Church
SALINAS (CBS SF) -- A man fatally shot as he returned home from church in Salinas on Wednesday night has been identified by police as 25-year old Jonathan Perea Hernandez.
Hernandez and two male companions were the victims of a shooting reported in the area near North Hebbron Avenue and Jefferson Street at about 10:40 p.m. Wednesday, police said.
Upon arriving, police found the three young men suffering from gunshot wounds, police said.
Hernandez, a Salinas resident, had been shot multiple times in his upper torso and was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 17-year-old boy who had also been shot in the torso multiple times was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, then to a hospital in the Bay Area to undergo surgery for his injuries, which are considered life-threatening.
The third victim, a 20-year-old, was shot once in the leg and was taken to a hospital with an injury that police said was not life-threatening.
The three victims attended Radio Vida Abundante Church on Pajaro Street four times a week, and were returning from church at the time of the shooting, according to police.
After parking on Hebbron Street, a block or so away from their residence, the men walked home, still carrying their Bibles. They were approached by two or three suspects, police said.
Without speaking, at least one of the suspects pulled out a gun and shot the victims for a reason as yet unknown to police.
According to police, the victims are not believed to be in gangs, and were not dressed in clothing associated with gangs.
As of Friday, police said they had no update on the status of the victims and could only describe the suspects as men in dark clothing.
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