In South Monterey County, California, two cousins, Andres “Chavita” Garcia, 26, and Jack Canchola, 20, both from Soledad, California, lost their lives in what law enforcement authorities have labeled a case of mistaken identity.
According to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, Garcia and Canchola were out for a drive near the Salinas River on the evening of February 4th, 2024, following a family gathering. Their leisurely outing ended in their brutal, execution-style murder.
The incident began around 6:45 p.m. near Greenfield, California. The cousins dialed 911 as they were unexpectedly pursued by at least two individuals in a light-colored car. To evade their pursuers, Garcia and Canchola drove off, but the assailants continued the chase in a four-door sedan, which was reported stolen from the Monterey Peninsula.
The pursuit ended in a vineyard when the cousins, in a desperate attempt to escape, crashed their vehicle. They were found dead next to their pickup truck, the victims of gunshot wounds. A deserted Kia Optima was found nearby.
Investigators have deduced from the available evidence that the victims were likely not the intended targets of their killers.
The Sheriff’s Office has stated that there is no evidence linking Garcia and Canchola to any criminal activities or gang affiliations. This has led to the theory that the murderers mistook them for their actual targets, who remain unidentified.
The Sheriff’s Office has offered a $10,000 reward for information that leads to their arrest.
The case has instigated a rigorous investigation. Law enforcement officials have implored the public to share any information about sightings of the suspect vehicle in the weeks preceding the murder.
The victims were two young men known to be hardworking and without any known enemies.
No suspects have been captured to date, and the motives are still unknown. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is particularly interested in any information related to the light-colored Kia Optima believed to be involved in the crime and its occupants, who are believed to have local ties.
