Police have identified a 22-year-old man who was killed in a gang-related shooting in Salinas early Saturday morning as Christian Lopez.
Lopez had just left his house at about 12:55 a.m. and was walking to work when he called his mother and told her he had been shot, according to police.
Officers responded to the area of Van Buren Avenue and Jackson Street looking for Lopez, who was found by a family member in the 13000 block of Jackson Street suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso, police said.
The officers performed CPR until medical personnel arrived, but Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses told police an altercation might have occurred just before the shooting. A light-colored, midsize SUV was seen speeding away from the scene of the shooting.
Police didn't know today why Lopez was shot, but the killing was being investigated as gang-related.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the investigations division at (831) 758-7226.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the tip line at (831) 775-4222 or (800) 78-crime, or text information to 847411 with the code "spd831."
