Araceli Verar, 30, of Watsonville, California, was shot and killed on October 24, 2021, at an organized off-roading event near the Salinas River north of Gonzales. Known as Chelly and a licensed cosmetologist who worked as a hairstylist, she was described as kind and welcoming; the shooting also killed 24-year-old Fabian Ortega of Watsonville and wounded two other people in their twenties.

The event reportedly drew a large crowd but did not have required permits. Authorities later linked the violence to suspected gang activity; on November 2, 2021, warrants were executed in Watsonville and David Bambi Ireta-Reyes, 24, and William Willy Garcia-Fuentes, 25, were arrested and charged with murder with gang enhancements. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has asked witnesses to come forward.

Does anyone who attended that event or knows people who were there have information to share that could help the investigation?