KING CITY — King City Police Department is asking for the public’s help with information about last Sunday’s shooting that killed a 22-year-old man from King City.
According to the department, gunshots were reported on Jan. 9 at about 4:50 p.m. in the 300 block of South Vanderhurst Avenue in King City. Local officers with assistance from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area and located a gunshot victim, later identified as Jorge Cortes, 22, of King City.
Emergency medical responders provided aid to Cortes at the scene, but he died from his injuries.
“The personnel of the King City Police Department offer our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Cortez,” police said in a news release Jan. 10.
Preliminary information developed during the investigation led to the identification of a suspect vehicle, a 2000’s GMC truck green in color, arriving in the area at the time of the incident. Police said the suspects exited the truck and confronted Cortes and a female victim in the street and began shooting at them.
Cortes was struck by gunfire, while the female victim was able to escape unharmed. The suspects then returned to the truck and fled the area rapidly.
Through investigative efforts, detectives obtained a search warrant for a residence in the 300 block of North San Lorenzo Avenue in King City. On Jan. 10 at about 12:15 p.m., police executed the search warrant and located the suspect vehicle believed to be involved in the incident.
In addition, a .223 caliber non-serialized assault rifle and three handguns were recovered.
Nearby, Santa Lucia Elementary School and the King City Early Education Center were placed on lockdown as the search warrant took place. Del Rey Elementary School conducted a voluntary lockdown at the discretion of the school, as well, during the duration of the law enforcement action.
“This is an active and ongoing investigation,” police said.
Anyone who has information pertaining to the crime is asked to contact Sgt. John Dow of KCPD at 831-386-5969 or jd**@ki******.com; or call the anonymous WeTip line at 1-800-78-CRIME.
