WATSONVILLE—Three shootings in Watsonville inside of 48 hours have left law enforcement investigators with their hands full.
Watsonville Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said the first shooting happened early Saturday morning on the Pajaro River levee at the end of Walker Street. That shooting left a 46-year-old man with life-threatening injuries.
“Officers responded to the area shortly after midnight on Saturday and found the victim down an embankment near a campsite,” Pulido said.
The victim, who was shot at least twice, was taken to an out-of-county trauma center.
Hours later officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Madison Street for a report of a shooting. Police did not find anyone injured by gunfire, however, officers did find several shell casings and bullet holes on the outside of a home and two parked vehicles.
The third shooting took place Monday at 2:07am on Tharp Avenue. A 30-year-old man was inside a vehicle when he was shot multiple times.
The victim was taken to a trauma center. He is expected to survive, Pulido said.
“Based on evidence collected, detectives do not believe any of these shootings are connected and [they] are working to determine if any of them could be gang-related,” Pulido said.
The Walker Street shooting is the third in that area since a double shooting in October 2020. On Jan. 9, 19-year-old Francisco Mora was found shot dead near the levee.
No arrests have been made in either of those shootings.
Police currently do not have information on the shooter(s).
Anyone with information on any of these cases is asked to call Det. Salvador Mendoza at 831-768-3357 or WPD’s anonymous tip line, 831-768-3544.
