SALINAS, Calif. — The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office is intensifying its legal actions against the violent group known as the “Murder Squad,” a self-styled gang accused of spreading terror in Salinas from 2015 to 2018. Officials link the group to 11 murders and 17 additional shootings, targeting both rival gang members and innocent bystanders in an attempt to establish dominance and gain membership in the notorious Norteno gang.
The cross-agency operation, involving the Salinas Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the FBI, has already seen considerable results with numerous convictions. Andrew Alvarado, among the latest convicted, pleaded guilty this week, facing life imprisonment. In prior actions, six others received substantial federal sentences, and four more were judged at the county level, also receiving decades-long sentences.
The District Attorney’s office has disclosed that seven more alleged members are currently facing charges ranging from murder to attempted murder. Police investigations continue as authorities piece together the full scope of the gang’s activities, which terrorized the city between 2015 and 2017.
Terrifyingly orchestrated, the Murder Squad allegedly carried out military-style operations involving convoys with designated shooter and spotter vehicles. These vehicles were in constant communication to coordinate rapid and deadly attacks before swiftly vacating the scene, often before law enforcement could intervene.
Chris Barrera, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens in Salinas, lamented the period as one marked by seemingly incessant violence that profoundly affected the community. “It was wild, and it felt like there were shootings and murders happening all the time,” Barrera said. He also stressed the importance of community intervention to prevent young people from gravitating towards gang life, suggesting involvement in education and trades as viable alternate paths.
Detective Gansen of the Salinas Police has been invested in this extensive investigation, known operationally as Operation Redrum. He mentioned that efforts are ongoing to bring in more individuals connected to the horrifying crime spree, ensuring witness protection and seeking community assistance to further the cause.
The atrocities committed by the Murder Squad were random yet brutal; often, the victims had no gang affiliations and were merely in the wrong place at the wrong time. The reign of terror included instances where squad members, after remembering a deceased friend or relative, would go on so-called “hunts” to target perceived enemies, dramatically increasing their standing within the gang through the violence perpetrated.
Legal repercussions for those involved have been severe. Among those sentenced were individuals who played crucial roles in orchestrating and executing the violence. These included leaders who directed the hunts, shooters who carried out the killings, and others who coordinated the gang’s gruesome activities.
The District Attorney’s office is resolute in continuing its crackdown on gang violence, emphasizing a stern commitment to securing justice for the victims and restoring a sense of safety within the community. “We are fighting every day to bring some closure and justice for victims,” expressed a spokesperson from the DA’s office, indicating that they would continue to press charges against individuals as evidence permits.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this dark chapter, there is a concerted call for preventive measures, focusing on providing hope and opportunities for the youth of Salinas. With ongoing trials and investigations, the full extent of the Murder Squad’s impact is still unfolding, underlining a traumatic but pivotal moment in the city’s fight against organized crime.