On December 1, 2024, at approximately 1:46 p.m., King City police responded to reports of a shooting in the 800 block of Willow Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered 31-year-old Gabriel Hernandez inside a vehicle, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Tragically, Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation quickly identified a silver Honda, reported stolen from the San Francisco Bay Area on November 25, as a vehicle of interest.
This car was located in King City shortly after the incident and is currently undergoing forensic analysis for potential evidence, such as DNA or fingerprints, that could lead to the identification of the perpetrators.
Authorities have labeled the homicide as gang-related. On December 13, 2024, King City Police Chief James Hunt announced that 20-year-old Israel Martinez is a person of interest in the case. Martinez is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. He has distinctive tattoos, including three dots below his right eye, one dot below his left eye, the words "blue devil" on his left hand, and a crown on his left arm. Martinez is considered armed and dangerous; the public is advised not to approach him but to contact law enforcement immediately if he is spotted.
In addition to Martinez, another unidentified individual is being sought in connection with the murder. Two individuals, 22-year-old Eliseo Gutierrez and 24-year-old Juan Javier Perez, both from King City, have been arrested and charged as accessories after the fact for allegedly assisting the suspects following the homicide.
This incident marks the fifth homicide in King City for the year, following a mass shooting in March that resulted in four deaths and seven injuries. The recent surge in violence has raised concerns among community leaders and residents, prompting calls for increased efforts to address gang-related activities and enhance public safety measures.
The King City Police Department continues to investigate Gabriel Hernandez's murder and urges anyone with information to come forward. Community cooperation is deemed essential in bringing those responsible to justice and in curbing the escalation of violence in the area.
