Homicide and Attempted Homicide Arrests

Release Date/Time: 2/14/2021 9:50 AM
Incident:  Homicide and Attempted Homicide Arrests
Date: Sunday, 2/14/2021
Time: 9:50 AM
Location:  500 Block of Sunrise Street

Release Authorized by:  Sergeant Danny Warner
Telephone:  831-758-7128

On January 12, 2017, at approximately 9:00 pm, Salinas Police Officers were in the area of Garner Avenue and North Sanborn Road when they heard several gunshots. Shortly thereafter, we received a ShotSpotter activation from the 500 block of Sunrise Street. Officers arrived in less than one minute and encountered 4 victims with gunshot wounds.  Two of the victims had non-life-threatening wounds, but 27-year-old Jose Luis Flores-Vargas and 25-year-old Alejandro Ramirez were pronounced dead at the scene.  None of the victims were gang affiliated.

Detectives investigated the shooting, reached out to the community and followed up on every lead.  Working with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners and the Monterey County District Attorney's Office, we secured arrest warrants for 27-year-old Ryan Meza and 25-year-old Joseph Garcia, which were issued on January 21, 2021.  On January 23, 2021, Salinas Police Patrol Officers located Ryan Meza in the 200 block of East Alvin Drive and arrested him without incident.  On February 13, 2021, the Salinas Police Violence Suppression Task Force (VSTF) determined Joseph Garcia was in a residence in the 300 block of West Acacia Street.  The location was surrounded, and Garcia was called out and arrested without incident.  Meza and Garcia were booked in Monterey County Jail for Murder and Attempted Murder.

This case is part of a long-term investigation in partnership with the United States Attorney's Office and Monterey County District Attorney's Office.  24-year-old Siaki Tavale and 29-year-old Mark Garcia were federally indicted for their part in this shooting.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Officer Byron Gansen at (831) 801-3549 or email him at byrong@ci.salinas.ca.us, or call the Salinas Police Department at (831) 758-7321.  If you would like to remain anonymous, you can call the Salinas Police Department Tip Line at (831) 775-4222.