King City police secure key evidence in recent murder case

A stolen silver Honda allegedly taken from the San Francisco area could be the key to solving a murder in King City that occurred in broad daylight Sunday afternoon.

Killed was Gabriel Hernandez, 31, of King City. Hernandez was shot while driving on the 800 block of Willow Street.

Video provided to Action News 8 showed Hernandez slumped in his car with at least one bullet hole in the windshield. Hernandez was shot multiple times and died at the scene.

On Tuesday, police said the murder was gang-related and they recovered the stolen Honda just blocks from the crime scene.

Investigators believe Hernandez’s killer or killers were driving the car, and they are searching the car for evidence they hope will lead to those responsible.

“It could be anything from DNA to fingerprints to documents they may have left behind. There could be any number of things in there that could be evidentiary to us, and that’s what we’re looking for right now,” said King City Police Chief James Hunt.

Hernandez is the fifth homicide in King City this year, following the mass shooting in March that left four dead and seven injured. Hernandez’s killing came just days after another man was shot and injured at a mobile home park on the 900 block of Broadway.

In that case, police arrested 20-year-old Adrian Justo of Greenfield for attempted murder.

“Of course it’s worrying any time you see so many events in such a short period of time that you think something bigger could be at play. Our investigations have not proven that this is the case at this point, that doesn’t mean we won’t find out as the investigation continues,” the chief said.

Some are now wondering whether gun violence transcends city limits. A 17-year-old was recently shot and injured in Gonzales.

“I have concerns. But I know our police officers are behind it. I know they’re working together to get to the bottom of this and try to curb all the violence that we’re seeing in the South, whether it’s the city police or the sheriff. The county is on hold said Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez, who represents the southern county area.

It is not known whether the rise in violence is a retaliatory move or an escalating turf war between rival gangs, but community leaders say the violence must stop.

“That’s enough, it’s time to call it a day, put this aside and realize there are bigger things coming for all of us as a community, we don’t need to focus on these particular events…it’s painful, families do.” “hurt if.” “These things happen,” Lopez said.