Leo Juarez Moreno, aged 49, tragically passed away on July 4, 2020, in Salinas, California. Born on October 22, 1970, in Roswell, New Mexico, Leo had been a resident of Salinas for over 30 years. He was well-known in the community and is survived by his parents, Carmelo Moreno and Rebecca J. Martinez, his wife Elizabeth Roselli, and his children Ashley, Rebecca, Destiny, and Leo Moreno.
The circumstances surrounding Leo's death were deeply distressing.
On the night of July 4, 2020, at approximately 10 p.m., Leo was shot multiple times in the 400 block of Noice Drive. Despite immediate first aid and CPR efforts by responding officers, Leo succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The suspect, identified as Sergio Magallanes, 29, was seen fleeing the area wearing a red shirt and blue jeans. During his escape, Magallanes encountered two 19-year-olds and fired at them, though they were not hit.
The investigation quickly led to the identification and arrest of Sergio Magallanes. He was found on the roof of a building in the 100 block of Chaparral Street, just hours after the shooting. Magallanes, a documented gang member from Stockton, was on post-release community supervision at the time of the incident. He was subsequently booked into Monterey County Jail on charges of murder, attempted murder, and violating the terms of his release.
This tragic event marked the fourth homicide in Salinas for the year 2020. The community was left in shock, and the Salinas Police Department urged anyone with additional information to come forward. The case against Sergio Magallanes proceeded with charges of murder and attempted murder, highlighting the ongoing issues of gang violence and public safety in the area.
