* Monterey Gunman on a Bicycle Sought by Sheriff for Drive-By Shooting

Published by Junior Staff Writer on June 25, 2009

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspected gunman on a bicycle who opened fire on a man in Castroville on Monday. Deputies responded to a reported shooting at 10241 Pomber St. at around 4 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office. A suspect on a dark BMX-type bicycle reportedly shot eight rounds from a .40 caliber semi automatic handgun at a man driving a red Ford F-150. He fled on his bike heading south on Pomber Street. The victim, Castroville resident Guy Blanco, was not injured in the shooting, though several rounds hit his vehicle. According to the sheriff’s office Blanco was uncooperative with investigators, telling them he would “take care of it” himself. The suspect is described as a heavyset Hispanic man in his late
teens to early 20s, around 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing around 170 pounds. He had short dark “faded” hair, a widow’s peak and a goatee, and was seen wearing a black jacket, a red-and-white striped shirt and dark blue jeans. Monterey County Sheriff Mike Kanalakis is scheduled to hold a news conference today with the North Monterey County League of United Latin American Citizens to discuss a recent increase in violent crime in Castroville. The meeting will be held at the Castroville Library at 12:30
p.m.