By Khalida Sarwari
Police are investigating a gang-related shooting involving a 16-year-old boy in Salinas on Friday afternoon.
Officers responded to a report of shots fired near the intersection of Second Avenue and Bellehaven Street at about 12:50 p.m. and found a 16-year-old boy suffering from two gunshot wounds to his arm and head, according to police.
The victim was transported via helicopter to a hospital, where he was treated and later released.
Witnesses told police that a black sedan pulled up next to the victim’s car as it was traveling north on Second Avenue and fired multiple shots. The victim, sitting in the passenger’s seat, was struck by bullets, but the other two people in the car were not hit, police said.
The shooting caused the driver of the car to lose control and hit a fire hydrant and a parked car before coming to a stop on a sidewalk near the intersection, according to police.
The suspect vehicle was last seen going north on Second Avenue.
The gunman was described as a 17 or 18-year-old boy with a thick mustache.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact the investigations division at (831) 758-7226 or the anonymous tip line at (831) 775-4222, the We-Tip Line at (800) 78-CRIME, or text information to the text tip line with the code “SPD831” to “847411”.