Moss Landing Beach Shooting Victims Identified as Two Salinas Teenagers; Investigation Continues

MOSS LANDING, Monterey County — November 5, 2026. Authorities have identified the two people killed near Moss Landing State Beach early Monday, November 2, as Marco Antonio Perez, 15, and Nathaniel Flores, 13, both from Salinas. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office released the identities on November 3. Two other people were injured; no public finding about a motive or a suspect’s responsibility has been established in the reports reviewed.

What investigators reported

Deputies were called shortly before 2 a.m. November 2 following a report of gunfire along Jetty Road near the state beach. They found the two young victims dead and a third person injured. A fourth person arrived at a hospital. Investigators examined the scene and a nearby area where people appeared to have gathered, but said a connection between that gathering and the violence was not established.

Salinas schools and community respond

The school district confirmed the two victims were students and offered support to grieving families and fellow students. Public statements emphasized compassion and avoiding rumor. Families’ grief should not be used to speculate about gang connections, personal conflicts or other unverified motives.

What is still unknown

Authorities have not released a substantiated motive or identified a suspect in the source reporting used here. A lack of reported arrests is not evidence that a particular person or group is responsible. The investigation remains ongoing.

Where to provide information

Anyone with information can contact Monterey County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Nick Kennedy at 831-755-3773 or Detective Richard Geng at 831-759-7279, as reported by local outlets. Emergency concerns should go through 911.

Sources: CBS Bay Area, November 3; Monterey County Weekly report, November 3. Victims’ names were publicly released by the sheriff’s office.

YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER NEEDS YOU

Help this community newspaper grow

Your support helps build coverage for the people and places this local newspaper serves.

Donate once by card ↗

Help Moss Landing News grow Help strengthen reporting on Moss Landing: community voices, important decisions and local life.

Support Moss Landing News

Choose how to support Moss Landing News:

Credit / Debit Card via Stripe

Choose an amount from $1. One-time support through the publisher's LINKERNO Stripe account.

Continue with PayPal Continue with Zelle

Zelle payments go to Vitaly Ataev Troshin. Please verify the recipient in your bank before sending. Availability depends on your bank.

Optional reader support. When possible, add “Moss Landing News” to the payment note. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible. Support does not influence editorial decisions.

Optional support through the publisher. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible and never buy editorial influence.

Moss Landing News — Your Community Newspaper

Have a correction, news tip, local announcement, or story to submit? Contact our editorial team. All submissions are reviewed before publication.