Luis Alfredo Ferro-Sanchez, 20, died on October 21, 2022, after being struck by a bullet at a Salinas home on Antelope Drive. The gunshot occurred while off-duty Santa Cruz officer Francisco Villicana was reportedly cleaning his personal firearm; the bullet passed through Villicana’s hand and struck Ferro-Sanchez in the torso. Ferro-Sanchez was taken to a hospital and later died.

The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office investigated and decided not to file criminal charges, concluding the shooting was an accident and finding no evidence of gross negligence or foul play. Villicana, who joined the Santa Cruz Police Department in February 2022, was placed on administrative leave during the inquiry. The firearm involved was Villicana’s personal weapon, not department issued. Ferro-Sanchez had hoped to become a police officer, a goal his brother also shares in law enforcement.

What information might help clarify how the firearm was handled before it discharged, or do readers with knowledge of the case have additional details to share?