A 21-year-old Monterey County man was indicted this week on six murder counts tied to a monthlong shooting and robbery spree that prosecutors say terrorized the Salinas Valley in 2024.

Manuel Galindo Rodriguez, of Greenfield, faces charges connected to an armed robbery, the killing of two men near Greenfield and a mass shooting at a King City birthday party that left four dead and seven wounded, according to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.

A Monterey County grand jury returned the indictment on Thursday after hearing five days of testimony and reviewing evidence gathered during a sprawling two-year investigation.

Prosecutors say that Rodriguez committed the crimes for the benefit of the Norteño street gang. The indictment accuses Rodriguez of the following offenses committed within one month in 2024:

An armed robbery at Big 5 Sporting Goods in Salinas on Feb. 3

The killings of Andres Garcia and Jack Canchola outside Greenfield on Feb. 4

A mass shooting at a family birthday party in King City on March 3, which killed Francisco Perez, Olivo Perez, Mario Guzman and Alicia Aparicio

Three other Greenfield men were previously charged in the same crimes: Pedro Nava, 35, Angel Evans, 20 and Jonathan Cervantes, 20.

The spree of violence began when Evans and other Norteño gang members stole two vehicles on the Monterey Peninsula, according to an investigation.

Authorities say Rodriguez, Evans, Cervantes and two unidentified accomplices used one of the stolen vehicles to rob the sporting goods store at Northridge Mall. Police said four masked suspects allegedly stormed the store armed with guns, threatened employees and stole roughly $2,000 worth of ammunition before fleeing.

The next day, prosecutors say Nava directed Evans, Cervantes and Rodriguez to hunt for rival gang members in the area.

While driving near Greenfield, the men encountered cousins Jack Canchola and Andres Garcia, who were parked near a bridge and allegedly mistook them for rival gang members, authorities said.

Authorities say Garcia tried to drive away while Canchola called 911. Evans, Cervantes and Rodriguez allegedly chased them until their truck crashed in a vineyard off Los Coches Road in Soledad, where prosecutors say the three men unloaded dozens of rounds, striking the victims more than 40 times.

Less than a month later and about 20 miles away, Nava ordered the group to carry out a shooting at a family birthday party in King City, authorities said. Investigators allege the three drove to the residence in a second stolen vehicle, surveilled the gathering for nearly an hour and then jumped out.

The crew then fired dozens of rounds into a crowd gathered under a tent in the front yard. Four people were killed.

Rodriguez has been in custody since April 2024. He is scheduled to be arraigned May 25 in Monterey County Superior Court.

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This article originally published at Northern California man charged with six murders, including at birthday party.