Authorities Investigate Targeted Attack in Watsonville Double Shooting
A shooting in Watsonville that resulted in the deaths of two men has been labeled a “targeted attack” by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident took place just before 1 a.m. on Friday in a quiet farming area located on the 700 block of Carlton Road, outside Watsonville. Deputies are currently working to identify the suspects involved in the shooting.
On Monday, the sheriff’s office released the names of the victims, identifying them as 21-year-old Watsonville residents Jeremiah Rios Aguilar and Giovanni Aburto Lopez. When law enforcement arrived at the scene early Friday morning, both men were found with gunshot wounds. Despite attempts at life-saving measures, they were pronounced dead at the scene.
Carlton Road remained closed for much of Friday as deputies conducted their investigation. Sheriff’s office spokesperson Ashley Keehn stated that investigators are interviewing individuals to uncover a possible motive for the attack and that autopsies will be performed by a forensic pathologist.
