MARINA — Shoppers and residents were sent scrambling Friday afternoon when a shooting erupted at an apartment complex next to the popular Dunes Shopping Center, leaving three individuals with gunshot wounds and police hunting for a suspect still on the loose.
The Marina Police Department reports that the violence unfolded at approximately 4:20 p.m. outside a residence on Second Street, adjacent to the Trader Joe’s grocery store. Witnesses on the scene described hearing a rapid succession of seven gunshots ring out, shattering the otherwise calm afternoon.
Active Scene and Campus Alert
All three victims were rushed by emergency responders to a regional trauma center for urgent treatment. Authorities have not released their current medical conditions or identities as the investigation continues.
In response to the close proximity of the violence, California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) issued an urgent safety alert to its student body, warning them to stay clear of the Dunes Shopping Center and Trader Joe’s area while police operations were active.
Police and sheriff’s deputies established a wide perimeter around the scene, with yellow crime scene tape blocking access to parts of the complex and parking lot as detectives gathered evidence. A spokesperson for the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office deferred all detailed inquiries to the Marina Police Department, which is leading the active investigation.
Community on Edge
The brazen nature of the shooting—occurring in a busy commercial and residential area on a Friday afternoon—has left the coastal community on edge. Authorities have not released any description of a suspect or a possible motive but confirm the individual responsible remains at large.
Marina Police are urging anyone who was in the area of the Dunes Shopping Center or the adjacent apartment complexes between 4:00 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. and may have witnessed the events or has relevant dashcam or cell phone footage to come forward.
“We are following all leads and are determined to hold the person responsible for this violence accountable,” a Marina Police Department representative stated. Residents and students are advised to remain vigilant and avoid the immediate area until the police investigation concludes.
Further updates on the victims’ conditions and any suspect information are expected from the Marina Police Department as the investigation develops.