Hector Oswaldo Sandoval, a 29-year-old resident of Salinas, California, tragically lost his life on December 11, 2017. Sandoval was found shot and killed in the 700 block of Holly Street. The investigation revealed that he had been gunned down with a shotgun during a meeting with two acquaintances, Gerardo Abel Cerna, 29, and Miguel Angel Cerna, 22.
The exact reasons for their meeting remain unclear, and police have not disclosed whether gang affiliations were involved.
Following the shooting, Sandoval was pulled out of his vehicle by one or both of the Cerna brothers, who then drove away in his car, leaving him in the middle of the street where he succumbed to his injuries. The Salinas Police Department, along with the Monterey County Sheriff's SWAT teams, conducted early morning raids on January 10, 2018, at properties on E. Laurel Street and Green Street, leading to the arrest of the Cerna brothers.
Gerardo Cerna faces multiple charges, including murder, carjacking, and possession of a firearm by a felon, while Miguel Cerna is charged with being an accessory to murder, possession of a stolen vehicle, and carrying a loaded firearm. Both suspects were taken into custody without incident and are being held at the Monterey County Jail with a bail set at $1.5 million each. The investigation is ongoing, and police have urged anyone with information to come forward.
The tragic death of Hector Oswaldo Sandoval has left a significant impact on the community, and the arrests of the Cerna brothers have brought some measure of justice to his family. However, the full details of the case and the motivations behind the crime remain under investigation.
