On January 9, 2022, Jorge Cortes, a 22-year-old resident of King City, California, was tragically shot and killed. The incident occurred around 4:50 p.m. in the 300 block of South Vanderhurst Avenue. According to reports, gunshots were heard, prompting local officers and the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office to respond to the scene. Upon arrival, they found Jorge Cortes suffering from gunshot wounds.
Despite the efforts of emergency medical responders, Cortes succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The King City Police Department launched an investigation into the shooting, identifying a green GMC truck from the early 2000s as the suspect vehicle. Surveillance footage and witness accounts indicated that the suspects exited the truck, confronted Cortes and a female companion, and opened fire. While Cortes was fatally wounded, the female victim managed to escape unharmed. The suspects then fled the scene in the truck.
The following day, on January 10, 2022, police executed a search warrant at a residence in the 300 block of North San Lorenzo Avenue in King City. During the search, they located the suspect vehicle and recovered a .223 caliber non-serialized assault rifle along with three handguns. Nearby schools, including Santa Lucia Elementary School and King City Early Education Center, were placed on lockdown as a precaution during the search.
Despite these efforts, no arrests were made immediately following the incident. The investigation remained active, with the King City Police Department urging anyone with information to come forward. The case highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in addressing violent crime in the community and underscored the need for public cooperation in solving such cases.
