Two people were killed and two others were injured in a shooting that occurred near Moss Landing State Beach early Monday morning, according to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies, California State Parks personnel, and California Highway Patrol officers responded to reports of gunfire along Jetty Road shortly before 2 a.m. Upon arrival, they discovered two individuals who were pronounced dead at the scene. A third person who had sustained gunshot wounds arrived at a local hospital, with their condition unspecified. A fourth individual was taken from the scene to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.
The identities of the deceased are being withheld pending forensic examinations and notification of their families. Monterey County Sheriff Tina M. Nieto stated that detectives are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and urged anyone with information to come forward.
In response to the investigation, California State Parks Police closed Jetty Road and Moss Landing State Beach. The sheriff's office has indicated there is no active threat to the community and has not released information regarding the motive for the shooting, stating it remains an active investigation.
State Sen. John Laird expressed condolences to those affected by the "unspeakable horror" of the shooting, acknowledging the multiple fatalities reported across the country over the weekend and specifically on the Central Coast.