Investigators arrested an 18-year-old Greenfield resident days after gunfire killed two Salinas teenagers near Moss Landing State Beach.
MOSS LANDING, Calif. — An 18-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an early-morning shooting near Moss Landing State Beach that killed two teenage boys and wounded another person, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said Friday.
Donald William Breeden of Greenfield was booked into the Monterey County Jail on suspicion of two counts of murder with criminal street gang enhancements, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Authorities identified the boys killed in the Nov. 2 shooting as Marco Antonio Perez, 15, and Nathaniel Flores, 13, both of Salinas. Investigators have not publicly explained what led to the gunfire or described Breeden’s alleged role beyond announcing his arrest.
The shooting was reported shortly before 2 a.m. Monday along Jetty Road, which leads toward Moss Landing State Beach on the Monterey County coast. Sheriff’s deputies, California Highway Patrol officers and California State Parks personnel responded after reports of gunshots. Officers found Perez and Flores at the scene, where both were pronounced dead from apparent gunshot wounds.
Investigators also learned that another person reached a local hospital with a gunshot wound. A fourth person had been taken from the area with injuries initially described as not life-threatening, but the Sheriff’s Office later said those injuries were unrelated to the shooting. Authorities have not publicly identified the surviving gunshot victim or released an updated condition.
The investigation moved into a new phase Thursday when detectives, assisted by tactical officers and other law enforcement personnel, served search warrants in Greenfield and King City. The Sheriff’s Office said three people were detained at the Greenfield location as investigators gathered evidence and interviewed people connected to the case. Breeden was subsequently arrested, authorities said.
Breeden’s bail was listed at $2.035 million, according to information released following the arrest. The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains active and has not announced whether additional arrests are expected. Officials also have not publicly detailed the evidence supporting the alleged gang enhancements. An arrest or booking allegation does not establish guilt, and the case remains subject to the court process.
The deaths shook the Salinas school community after officials confirmed that Perez and Flores were students in the Salinas Union High School District. District Superintendent Zandra Jo Galván said earlier in the week that counseling and emotional support would be available for students and staff affected by the deaths. The district also asked the community to respect the families’ privacy and avoid spreading unconfirmed information while the investigation continued.
Authorities initially released few details about what happened on the beach. Investigators said they were examining an area that appeared to have been used for a gathering, but officials had not established whether that gathering was connected to the shooting. State Parks officials said the beach normally closes at sunset, meaning the people present during the early-morning incident were there after normal operating hours.
Jetty Road and Moss Landing State Beach were temporarily closed as detectives processed the scene and searched for evidence. Officials said early in the investigation that they believed the incident was isolated and that there was no active threat to the surrounding Moss Landing community. The beach and road were later reopened after investigators completed their initial work at the scene.
Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto credited community members who provided information that helped detectives advance the case. She said investigators were continuing their work despite the arrest and were still seeking information that could clarify the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Perez and Flores. Authorities had not announced a motive as of Friday.
The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains active and ongoing. Detectives are continuing to seek information from people who may have witnessed the shooting or know what happened before and after the gunfire near Jetty Road.