In this image from KION video, police investigate the scene of a shooting in King City, Calif., Sunday, March 3, 2024. Police say a group of men in masks opened fire at an outdoor party in central California. (KION via AP)
KING CITY — Law enforcement authorities say they have recovered the stolen car they believe was used by the shooters in a King City mass shooting Sunday.
The vehicle, a silver 2017 Kia Rio, was found in an unincorporated area of south Monterey County according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office Wednesday afternoon. Police say the car was stolen from Pacific Grove in late February. Authorities have traffic footage of the car entering and leaving the city through Canal Street and onto the freeway, as well as the license plate number.
Police believe the car was used by the three individuals who pulled up to a party in the front yard of a King City home in the 200 block of North 2nd Street Sunday evening and started shooting. Four people were shot to death. The victims were identified by authorities Tuesday as King City residents Mario Guzman Mendoza, 42; Alicia Ramirez Aparicio, 32; Francisco Aldape Perez, 32 and Olivo Perez Pina, 32. In addition, 11 people were injured.
In a press conference Tuesday, law enforcement authorities said they are still looking for the three shooters, who have not been identified. King City is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individuals involved.
The seven other victims were taken to Natividad Medical Center for gunshot wounds. Two of them were in critical condition as of Tuesday and five suffered non-life threatening injuries according to the King City department.
King City police will also be working with several other partner agencies and neighboring departments to solve the case.
“As you can imagine an investigation of this magnitude and complexity requires countless resources, resources a small department like ours simply does not have,” said King City Police Chief James Hunt.
Police say the shooters have not been identified and remain outstanding.
Originally published at Kyarra Harris