SEASIDE – Police say a series of fights at the Monterey County Fair on Aug. 30 escalated into a shooting later that night in Seaside, prompting a multi-agency investigation that has now led to several arrests and an ongoing search for additional suspects.
Monterey police officers responded to reports of multiple fights inside the fairgrounds just before 8 p.m. on the Saturday of the Monterey County Fair. Eleven officers were already stationed at the venue, but by the time they arrived, the altercations had ended and witnesses were uncooperative. Security staff reported hearing secondhand claims of a man with a gun and some attendees spread rumors of an active shooter, but officers found no evidence of gunfire inside the carnival area.
Out of caution, police and fair staff evacuated the fairgrounds with support from nearby agencies, including Seaside, Marina, Pacific Grove, Del Rey Oaks and California Highway Patrol. Investigators later reviewed videos showing a group of men kicking and punching two victims, resulting in multiple arrests over the following week.
Mario Giovanny Perez Luis, 19, of Monterey, and Roberto Mendez, 20, were both arrested and booked into Monterey County Jail on assault with a deadly weapon charges with bail set at $200,000 each. Several juveniles, ranging in age from 15 to 17, were also arrested on the same charge and booked into juvenile hall. Monterey police said the case is being investigated as a gang-related crime and additional charges may be filed.
Hours after the fairground altercation, Seaside police were alerted to multiple gunshots in the 1300 block of Luzern Street by the city’s Flock gunshot detection system. While no one was reported injured, investigators believe the shooting was directly linked to the earlier fights at the fair.
“We do believe that the fights that started at the fairgrounds are absolutely the motive that led to all the tension that happened after hours that led into Seaside,” said Seaside Police Chief Nick Borges.
One man, Adrian Bernal Lopez, 20, was arrested on attempted murder charges in connection to the shooting and booked into Monterey County Jail with bail set at $2 million.
On Sept. 10, officers served a high-risk search warrant at a Marina residence believed to be connected to another suspect, leading to a temporary shelter-in-place order for nearby residents. The suspect was not found inside.
“We have solid leads, solid information, and we are going to capture everyone involved,” Borges said.
Both Monterey and Seaside police said the investigation remains active, with more arrests expected.
