Giovanni Vargas, 24, of Salinas, California, was fatally shot on November 2, 2016, at the Boronda Manor Apartments on Santa Rita Street. He was working on his car when he was found with multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Salinas Police Department opened an investigation, calling it the city’s 33rd homicide that year.

Investigators treated the shooting as gang-related and said Vargas was likely targeted because of mistaken identity. The case faced challenges from a scarcity of witnesses willing to speak, which investigators said hindered progress. Detectives later identified suspects with known gang affiliations and worked with the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office on charges connected to gang activity and the murder.

Anyone who knew Giovanni or has information about the shooting is asked to come forward.