An 18-year-old Greenfield man who was arrested last week on suspicion of shooting and killing two people at Moss Landing State Beach will not be charged, barring new evidence, according to the office of Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni.
Donald Breeden was taken into custody on Thursday on suspicion of being involved in the shooting, which occurred at a late-night on Nov. 2 involving dozens of people on the road above the beach, Jetty Road.
The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office alleged that the shooting was gang-related and came after confrontations at the party between two rival factions, one from Salinas and one from Greenfield.
Two Salinas teenagers, 15-year-old Marco Antonio Perez and 13-year-old Nathaniel Flores, were shot and killed. They were each shot multiple times, and were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the DA’s Office.
A third person, from Greenfield, was treated for two gunshot wounds at a hospital and survived.
Argument over missing necklaces escalated
Some of the tensions at the party involved threats of violence, vandalism, and accusations that some of the partygoers were stealing necklaces from girls at the party. The DA’s Office said several necklaces were later found in the backpack of a party attendee.
The DA’s Office said witness accounts gave important but sometimes incomplete, biased, or conflicting information, including who shot first and whether firearms were seen.
Prosecutors said they lacked sufficient evidence to rule out self-defense by any of the suspected shooters.
Investigators found 21 bullet casings at the scene that they believe were fired from at least two firearms, but no firearms were found.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Detective Richard Geng at 831-759-7279.