By Khalida Sarwari
Monterey County sheriff’s deputies arrested two men and expect to make additional arrests in connection with the murder of a teenager in Castroville Thursday night.
The shooting occurred around 8:05 p.m. in the area of Seymour and Salinas streets, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies found the victim, identified as Efren Vargas, 18, of Castroville, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies pursued a sedan from Castroville and into east Salinas that matched a description given by witnesses.
The occupants initially fled from the car, but deputies caught up with them and took them into custody.
The suspects, Steven Garza, 21, of Salinas, and Jeffrey Lopez, 18, of Prunedale, were booked into Monterey County Jail on suspicion of homicide, possession of weapons and gang affiliation.
Salinas police and California Highway Patrol officers assisted in the response to the shooting.
The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected, according to the sheriff’s office. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective Matt Davis at (831) 755-3805 or Detective Sgt. Archie Kaiser at (831) 755-3769.