MEDIA CONTACT: Sophia Rome
EMAIL: sophiar@ci.salinas.ca.us
CONTACT TITLE: Community Relations Mgr / PIO
PHONE: (831) 758-7407
RELEASE DATE: August 16, 2024
Salinas, CA – On Sunday, August 11, 2024, at approximately 7:10 am, Salinas Police Officers responded to a report of a man down in the roadway in the 2200 block of North Main St. On arrival, they located the victim, Saul Guadalupe Santos (58) suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital; however, he succumbed to his injuries. The investigation revealed that Santos was near his parked vehicle when the suspect approached, shot him multiple times, and fled in the victim’s vehicle. The victim’s vehicle was later recovered on California St.
Through the course of this investigation Salinas Police Detectives were able to identify Ismael Zendejas Lopez (23) as the suspect in this case. On Thursday, August 15, 2024, Salinas Police Detectives, Patrol Officers and members of the US Marshals Service Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Taskforce located Zendejas Lopez in the area of Front St. and W. Alisal St. He was arrested without incident. Zendejas Lopez was later booked at the Monterey County Jail.
While Zendejas Lopez is in custody and there are no additional suspects outstanding, this is still an active investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Detective Alejandro Zamora at 831-758-7148. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may also call the Salinas Police anonymous tip line at 831-775-4222.
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