MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KRON) -- Two people killed in an overnight shooting near Moss Landing State Beach in Monterey County were high school students, the Salinas Union High School District announced Monday evening.
In a message to the community, Superintendent Zandra Jo Galván wrote, “It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we share that members of our district student community were among those who lost their lives in the tragic incident that occurred early Monday morning in Moss Landing.”
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office identified the deceased as 13-year-old Nathaniel Flores and 15-year-old Marco Antonio Perez. Both boys were residents of Salinas.
Authorities responded just before 2 a.m. Monday to a report of a shooting on Jetty Road, which leads to the popular beach. Arriving deputies found Flores and Antonio Perez suffering from gunshot wounds. The young teens were pronounced deceased at the scene.
A third individual turned up at a local hospital a short time later, suffering from gunshot wounds believed to be sustained during the Jetty Road shooting. A fourth person who was found injured at the shooting scene was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The current conditions of the individuals who were injured are unknown.
Investigators are still working to piece together what led to the deadly shooting.
“We do not have any specific information as to motive,” said MCSO Public Information Officer Andres Rosas at a news conference Monday afternoon. “This is an active scene and they are in the process of trying to determine exactly what happened.”
Jetty Road and Moss Landing State Beach were reopened before 4 p.m. Monday. On the beach, remnants of a gathering were found left behind, including red cups, alcohol containers and a large portable speaker.
“This beach does close at sunset,” said Mike Dippel, chief ranger at California State Parks, “so these people were here after hours.” The entrance gate to Jetty Road and the beach at Highway 1 was not closed overnight by parks staff, which Dippel said is not uncommon.
Authorities said the shooting was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to the public. The shooter has not been identified as of Tuesday.
Superintendent Galván continued in her statement, “In moments of loss, the strength of our school community is found in the compassion and care we extend to one another. We ask that you keep the families and all those affected in your thoughts as we come together to support one another through this tragedy.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office at 831-755-5111.
