Matthew Tito Torres was an 18-year-old from King City, California, who was found dead on March 15, 2013; his death was determined to be a homicide from gunshot wounds. Authorities described the killing as gang-related and said it fit a pattern of violence affecting the area at the time.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and local police opened an extensive investigation. Investigators identified several suspects, including known gang members, and arrested multiple individuals who were charged with offenses related to the murder; charges mentioned in reports included first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Prosecutors relied on forensic evidence and witness testimony, but the inquiry faced challenges when witnesses were reluctant to come forward because of fear of retaliation.

Community leaders pushed for more resources to address gang violence after Torres’s death.