Monterey County DA declines to charge teen in Moss Landing party shooting that killed two
District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni cited conflicting witness testimony and self-defense claims in the Nov. 2 incident on Jetty Road.
By Marta Gray ·
Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Monday that no criminal charges will be filed against Donald Breeden, a teenager detained in connection with a deadly shooting at a party near Moss Landing State Beach. The decision follows a review of evidence from the Nov. 2 incident, which resulted in the deaths of two young men and serious injuries to a third.
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office arrested Breeden on Friday. Prior to his detention, the shooting on Jetty Road triggered a large law enforcement response and forced the closure of the road and nearby state beach. Officials confirmed that dozens of attendees were present at the gathering, most of whom were teens and young adults. The crowd included members from two distinct groups associated with Salinas and Greenfield.
Prosecutors stated that a verbal dispute erupted between the two groups over allegations of theft, vandalism, and threats. Witness accounts regarding the start of the physical confrontation and the first shots fired were inconsistent. Some observers claimed the Salinas group opened fire, while others pointed to the Greenfield group.
Investigators recovered 21 shell casings from the scene, suggesting at least two firearms were involved. Forensic analysis of the evidence is currently pending, and no weapons have been recovered. Prosecutors noted that Marco Antonio Perez, 15, and Nathaniel Flores, 13, both from Salinas, were shot seven and five times, respectively. A young adult from the Greenfield group was shot twice and survived.
The Salinas Union High School District confirmed the identities of the two victims on Tuesday, sparking widespread grief within the community. Pacioni explained that under California law, the prosecution must disprove self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt before filing charges. She clarified that self-defense is not merely a defense used at trial but a factor the state must account for when deciding whether to bring a case.
The district attorney’s office stated there is currently insufficient evidence to prove that Breeden did not act in self-defense. The investigation remains ongoing as forensic teams continue their analysis. The case will not be dropped permanently, and prosecutors indicated they will revisit the decision if new evidence emerges.
Breeden remains free on bail pending the conclusion of forensic testing. The families of the victims have not yet issued a public response to the district attorney's announcement. Local officials expect the final forensic reports to be available within the next several weeks.
