Salinas students were Moss Landing shooting victims: district
Motive remains unclear in Moss Landing shooting
Officials are investigating the motive behind a shooting at Moss Landing State Beach on Monday that left two people dead and two others injured. The beach was temporarily closed while deputies canvassed the scene, but has since reopened.
MOSS LANDING, Calif. - The two people who were shot to death at a beach in Moss Landing were students in the Salinas Union High School District, according to the superintendent.
Salinas students
What we know:
Zandra Jo Galván posted the news on the district's Facebook page Monday night, hours after the sheriff announced that two people were killed, and two others were injured about 2 a.m. on Jetty Road at Moss Landing State Beach.
What we don't know:
Galván did not identify the students by name or age.
So far, the Monterey County coroner has not publicly identified them either.
The superintendent only said that she was announcing their deaths with "profound sadness and heavy hearts."
She said the school district is extending their "deepest condolences" to the families as they "navigate an unimaginable grief."
Salinas is a roughly 20-minute drive to Moss Landing, a coastal area between Santa Cruz and Monterey.
Motive unknown
Multiple deaths in Monterey County; Moss Landing beach closed: sheriff
The Monterey County Sheriff said that there are "multiple fatalities and casualties" that occurred shortly after midnight on Monday and they are currently on scene. Meanwhile, a fire chief said his crews treated two gunshot victims who died on scene and one injured person was taken to the hospital.
At a news conference on Monday, Cmdr. Andy Rosas said investigators didn't know the circumstances of the rare beach shooting. From the sky, crime scene technicians were spotted placing evidence markers on the beach near red party cups. Crime scene tape also cordoned off a Porta Potty nearby.
Two people were pronounced dead on scene, and two others were taken to the hospital.
Rosas said detectives had no suspect information or motive to share.
The Source: Information for this story comes from the Salinas Union High School District, the Monterey County Sheriff, visual evidence.