By Khalida Sarwari
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a brawl late Wednesday night that led to the shooting of two men outside a Salinas restaurant.
Deputies responded to a report of a fight in the parking lot of El Desquite Restaurant at 348 San Juan Grade Road in unincorporated Salinas at about 10:55 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office.
It appears two groups of about 10 to 15 men, some of them intoxicated, got into a fight outside the restaurant during which someone fired four to six gunshots, causing the group to disperse and leave in their cars, the sheriff’s office said.
Among the evidence deputies recovered in the parking lot were blood and bullet casings.
Witnesses told deputies they saw two men and a woman carrying away an unconscious man prior to the shooting.
Two shooting victims were later found at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital and Natividad Medical Center.
They have been identified as Steven Rangel of Yuma, Ariz., and Fabian Sanchez of Salinas. Both suffered a gunshot wound to the leg.
Other suspects and victims involved in the fight have not yet been identified.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident and asks anyone with information about the case to call Deputy Anthony Wood at (831) 755-3700.