Two Boys, 13 and 15, Killed Near California Beach — 18-Year-Old Arrested in Double Murder Investigation
**MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. — November 7, 2026**
An 18-year-old California man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a deadly overnight shooting near Moss Landing State Beach left two teenage boys dead and another person wounded.
The victims, identified as 13-year-old Nathaniel Flores and 15-year-old Marco Antonio Perez, were both residents of Salinas. They were found dead along Jetty Road shortly before 2 a.m. Monday, November 2.
Four days later, investigators executed search warrants in two Monterey County cities, detained three people and arrested Donald William Breeden of Greenfield.
Breeden was booked into Monterey County Jail on suspicion of two counts of murder with criminal street gang enhancements. His bail was set at $2,035,000.
The arrest marks a significant development in a case that has left two families grieving, but authorities say the investigation is far from over.
## Gunfire Erupts Near Moss Landing State Beach
The investigation began during the early morning hours of November 2, when reports of gunfire brought emergency responders to Jetty Road in Moss Landing.
Monterey County sheriff's deputies, California State Parks personnel and California Highway Patrol officers responded shortly before 2 a.m.
When officers reached the area, they discovered two teenage boys who had sustained fatal injuries.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities later identified them as Nathaniel Flores, 13, and Marco Antonio Perez, 15.
A third person who had been shot subsequently arrived at a local hospital. Investigators did not immediately disclose that person's identity or provide a detailed medical update.
Early reports also indicated that a fourth person had been transported from the location to a hospital.
However, the sheriff's office later clarified that the fourth individual's injuries were not related to the shooting and were not considered life-threatening.
That clarification established that two people were killed and one additional person was confirmed to have suffered a gunshot wound.
Investigators have not publicly explained what triggered the violence.
## Detectives Search Two Cities Before Arresting Suspect
The investigation took a major turn Thursday, November 5, when law enforcement officers carried out coordinated searches in Greenfield and King City.
The operation involved Monterey County sheriff's detectives, the department's SWAT team, the Monterey Peninsula Special Response Unit and California State Parks personnel.
The first search warrant was executed at approximately 3 p.m. at a property in the 900 block of Maple Avenue in Greenfield.
Three people were detained at that location.
Investigators then executed a second search warrant at approximately 6 p.m. in the 45000 block of Crown Avenue in King City.
Following the searches and additional investigative work, deputies arrested Breeden.
The sheriff's office identified him as an 18-year-old resident of Greenfield.
Officials did not provide detailed information about the other two people detained during the Greenfield operation.
They also did not disclose what evidence was recovered during the searches or explain precisely how investigators connected Breeden to the fatal shooting.
The department announced the arrest publicly on Friday, November 6.
## Suspect Faces Two Murder Allegations With Gang Enhancements
Breeden was taken into custody on suspicion of two counts of murder with criminal street gang enhancements.
The gang-related allegations are an important element of the case, but authorities have not publicly established the suspected motive or explained the alleged gang connection.
A gang enhancement can carry additional legal consequences if prosecutors establish that the statutory requirements are met.
However, such an allegation does not by itself prove that a shooting was gang-motivated.
Breeden's bail was set at $2,035,000, according to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office.
The arrest represents an investigative development, not a conviction.
Breeden is presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove the charges against him in court.
Officials have not released a complete account of the events leading up to the shooting or confirmed whether the victims and suspect knew one another.
Those questions remain part of the investigation.
## Two Young Victims Identified as Salinas Residents
The deaths of Flores and Perez have brought attention to the two young lives lost in the shooting.
Both boys were from Salinas, a Monterey County city located inland from the coastal community of Moss Landing.
Nathaniel Flores was only 13 years old. Marco Antonio Perez was 15.
Their ages have become among the most distressing details of the case.
Local reporting has also drawn attention to the families and community members mourning their deaths.
According to Monterey County Now, November 6 would have been Flores' 14th birthday. The publication also reported his involvement with a local youth football organization.
The death of Perez has similarly prompted expressions of grief and efforts to support his loved ones.
Authorities have not released details establishing why the boys were at the beach area shortly before the shooting or whether they were specifically targeted.
The lack of those answers has left significant questions surrounding the circumstances of their deaths.
## Sheriff Credits Community Information for Breakthrough
Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto said information from members of the public helped detectives advance the case.
In the department's November 6 announcement, Nieto thanked residents who provided information during the investigation.
She also emphasized that the arrest did not mean detectives had finished their work.
Investigators are continuing to determine the circumstances surrounding the shootings and the sequence of events that led to the deaths of the two boys.
The sheriff's office has asked anyone with additional information to contact investigators.
Detective Sgt. Nick Kennedy can be reached at 831-755-3773, while Detective Richard Geng can be contacted at 831-759-7279.
Authorities have not disclosed whether they are seeking additional suspects.
The two other people detained during Thursday's search operation have not been publicly identified in the information released.
## What Happens Next in the Moss Landing Murder Investigation?
The arrest of Breeden marks an important step in the investigation, but several major questions remain unresolved.
Detectives have yet to publicly identify a motive, describe the circumstances leading to the shooting or explain the alleged gang connection.
They also have not provided a detailed update on the surviving gunshot victim's medical condition.
The criminal justice process will determine what charges prosecutors pursue and how the evidence against Breeden is evaluated.
Meanwhile, investigators continue gathering information about the early-morning violence near Moss Landing State Beach.
The case began with reports of gunshots along a coastal road and ended with two boys, ages 13 and 15, dead.
Four days later, investigators announced an arrest following searches in two different cities.
For the families of Nathaniel Flores and Marco Antonio Perez, the arrest offers a development in the search for answers, but it does not erase the loss of their children.
And for detectives, the most important unanswered question remains what caused the violence that took two young lives.
**Sources:**
San Francisco Chronicle — Sarah Brager, November 6, 2026.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/moss-landing-shooting-suspect-arrested-22517441.php
Monterey County Sheriff's Office — Official statement, November 6, 2026.
https://pubt.io/view/D29ADBC2DAB800B78ADAB91BECCF53BF7EFDEC97
