SALINAS, California - Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on May 21 the
indictment of Manuel Galindo Rodriguez, 21, of Greenfield for the murder of 6 Monterey County
residents and other crimes Rodriguez committed in Monterey County in early 2024. The Monterey
County Criminal Grand Jury returned the indictment after 5 days of testimony from witnesses. Grand
Jury hearings are secret proceedings where prosecutors present both inculpatory and exculpatory
evidence and grand jurors are tasked with determining whether there is probable cause to bring charges.
After deliberation the Grand Jury indicted Rodriguez for a February 3, 2024, armed robbery in Salinas;
the February 4, 2024, double murder of Andres Garcia and Jack Canchola outside Greenfield; and the
March 3, 2024, shooting at a King City party where he murdered Francisco Perez, Olivo Perez, Mario
Guzman, and Alicia Aparicio. Seven more victims also sustained gunshot wounds. The Grand Jury
found that Rodriguez committed each offense for the benefit of the Norteno Criminal Street Gang.
In May 2024 the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office charged Pedro Nava, 35, of Greenfield,
Angel Evans, 20, of Greenfield, and Jonathan Cervantes, 20, of Greenfield, with the same crimes. The
People intend to join Rodriguez’ case with theirs.
In January and February of 2024 Angel Evans and other Norteno Gang members stole two vehicles from
the Monterey Peninsula. At the time, Evans was in the TAILS program at Wonder Wood Ranch in
Prunedale, CA. Evans was released from custody from a penal institution and resided near Wonder
Wood Ranch so he could participate in the program. Evans stashed both stolen vehicles near his
residence.
On the evening of February 3, 2024, Evans, Cervantes, Rodriguez and two uncharged assailants traveled
in one of the stolen vehicles to Big 5 Sporting Goods at the Northridge Mall in Salinas, CA. Four of
them wearing masks entered Big 5. They wielded firearms, threatened Big 5 employees, stole about
$2,000 of ammunition, and then fled in the stolen vehicle.
The next day, February 4, 2024, Pedro Nava directed Evans, Cervantes, and Rodriguez to hunt for rival
gang members in South Monterey County. The trio armed themselves then departed Evans’ residence in
the same stolen vehicle they used in the Big 5 robbery. During their hunt for rivals, they spotted cousins
Jack Canchola and Andres Garcia parked in Andres’ truck alongside a bridge outside Greenfield. They
mistakenly concluded that Jack and Andres were rival gang members and threatened them. Andres
drove them away from the bridge while Jack called 911. Evans, Cervantes, and Rodriguez pursued in the
stolen vehicle. The pursuit ended when Jack and Andres crashed in a vineyard off Los Coches Rd. There
Evans, Cervantes, and Rodriguez exited the stolen vehicle and murdered Jack and Andres. The trio fired
dozens of rounds of gunfire inflicting over 40 gunshot wounds on Jack and Andres.
On March 3, 2024, Pedro Nava directed Evans, Cervantes, and Rodriguez to commit a shooting at a
family birthday party at a residence in King City, CA. The trio traveled to King City in the second stolen
vehicle and scouted the party for almost an hour. Then Evans, Cervantes, and Rodriguez stopped in front
of the party, exited the stolen vehicle, and fired dozens of rounds at partygoers assembled under a tent in
the residence’s front yard. Their gunfire killed Francisco Perez, Olivo Perez, Mario Guzman, and Alicia
Aparicio and inflicted great bodily injury on seven more victims. After the shooting Nava and Evans
exchanged text messages celebrating the death toll.
Rodriguez’ indictment follows more than two years of ceaseless investigation by multiple agencies
including the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office, King City Police Department, and Monterey
County Sherriff’s Office. In that period investigators authored hundreds of search warrants and analyzed
countless terabytes of digital evidence collected in the investigation.
Rodriguez has been in custody since April 2024. In November 2024 Rodriguez was sentenced to a 4
year, 8-month prison term for firearm possession and an assault he committed while housed in Monterey
County Jail. Rodriguez will be arraigned on May 26, 2026, at 1:30 PM in Department 1 of Monterey
County Superior Court.
The investigation of these crimes remains ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact
law enforcement.
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