Two people have been arrested for the murder of a California couple who were shot and killed on Feb. 5. According to Salinas police, Jesus Villa and Karina Vargas were in their car when they were shot and killed. Police said they think two people approached the car on foot before shooting Villa and Vargas multiple times. Villa and Vargas were dating.On Wednesday, police announced that Gonzalo Echeverria, 24, and Jose Echeverria, 34, were arrested for shooting and killing Villa and Vargas. Gonzalo and Jose are cousins and citizens of El Salvador who had both previously been deported.Police Chief Roberto Filice said that the murders were a case of mistaken identity. "We had no leads, yet our detectives worked relentlessly until they developed minute leads," Filice said. "Now we have two cowards in custody."Filice said that he met with the families on Tuesday. "Jesus and Karina were not the intended targets of this senseless act of violence," said Salinas police detective James Arensdorf. "It was in fact a case of mistaken identity."Arensdorf said detectives sorted through 1,000 hours of surveillance video to find the suspects. Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni said Gonzalo was released on early parole after serving two years of his eight years and four-month sentence. He had been charged for possessing a firearm for purpose of a gang and for assisting the escape of a fellow gang member. Pacioni said that the California Department of Corrections Parole Office granted him early parole. Pacioni said her office objected to the early release. Video below: Press conference from the Salinas Police DepartmentAccording to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Echeverria wasn't sentenced to eight years, but rather five years.Video below: 'Our lives won’t be the same': Grieving family shares memories of killed Salinas man "They were about to be three years together. He was waiting to get some jumper cables from my friend. That’s when everything happened. He showed up and saw him there, laying in his car," a friend of Villa – who asked to remain anonymous – said to sister station KSBW 8.Villa was a beloved member of the Closter Park boxing community."It helped him stay out of trouble, the boxing, community centers like that and I feel like if there was more around, it could've changed the story. He was good, honest, one of the realest person I ever knew," a friend said.
Two people have been arrested for the murder of a California couple who were shot and killed on Feb. 5.
According to Salinas police, Jesus Villa and Karina Vargas were in their car when they were shot and killed. Police said they think two people approached the car on foot before shooting Villa and Vargas multiple times. Villa and Vargas were dating.
On Wednesday, police announced that Gonzalo Echeverria, 24, and Jose Echeverria, 34, were arrested for shooting and killing Villa and Vargas. Gonzalo and Jose are cousins and citizens of El Salvador who had both previously been deported.
Police Chief Roberto Filice said that the murders were a case of mistaken identity.
"We had no leads, yet our detectives worked relentlessly until they developed minute leads," Filice said. "Now we have two cowards in custody."
Filice said that he met with the families on Tuesday.
"Jesus and Karina were not the intended targets of this senseless act of violence," said Salinas police detective James Arensdorf. "It was in fact a case of mistaken identity."
Arensdorf said detectives sorted through 1,000 hours of surveillance video to find the suspects.
Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni said Gonzalo was released on early parole after serving two years of his eight years and four-month sentence. He had been charged for possessing a firearm for purpose of a gang and for assisting the escape of a fellow gang member.
Pacioni said that the California Department of Corrections Parole Office granted him early parole. Pacioni said her office objected to the early release.
Video below: Press conference from the Salinas Police Department
According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Echeverria wasn't sentenced to eight years, but rather five years.
Video below: 'Our lives won’t be the same': Grieving family shares memories of killed Salinas man
"They were about to be three years together. He was waiting to get some jumper cables from my friend. That’s when everything happened. He showed up and saw him there, laying in his car," a friend of Villa – who asked to remain anonymous – said to sister station KSBW 8.
Villa was a beloved member of the Closter Park boxing community.
"It helped him stay out of trouble, the boxing, community centers like that and I feel like if there was more around, it could've changed the story. He was good, honest, one of the realest person I ever knew," a friend said.
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