2 PEOPLE AVOIDED INJURY IN A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING MONDAY NIGHT. A 21 YEAR-OLD MAN WAS SITTING IN A PARKED CAR, AND A 14 YEAR-OLD JUVENILE WAS NEXT TO THE CAR OUTSIDE THEIR HOME IN THE 17 HUNDRED BLOCK OF PESCADERO DRIVE IN SALINAS. A PASSING 4 DOOR SILVER HONDA ACCORD SLOWED DOWN , AND 4 SHOTS WERE FIRED . ALL 4 ROUNDS MISSED THE 2 INTENDED VICTIMS AND HIT THE CAR PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. INVESTIGATING OFFICERS FOUND A POSSIBLE GANG CONNECTION. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE HIGHWAY PATROL STOPPED A VEHICLE WITH A MATCHING DESCRIPTION IN SAN JUAN BAUTISTA. 4 SUSPECTS FLED THE STOP (ON FOOT) AND ESCAPED, LEAVING A HANDGUN BEHIND. THE VEHICLE WAS POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED AS THE SUSPECT VEHICLE FROM THE PESCADERO SHOOTING. OFFICERS ARE FOLLOWING SEVERAL LEADS IN THE CASE AS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.

THE VENTANA WILDERNESS SOCIETY WILL RELEASE 3 CALIFORNIA CONDORS ON THURSDAY. THE "SOFT" RELEASE WILL BE HELD AT PINNACLES NATIONAL MONUMENT, WHICH MEANS THE BIRDS ARE FREE TO GO BUT THEY'RE NOT FORCED. THIS METHOD IS USED TO ASSURE EACH BIRD IS COMFORTABLE WITH THE TRANSITION. 2 OF THE BIRDS WILL HAVE A GLOBAL POSITIONING TRANSCEIVER ATTACHED TO THEIR WINGS, ALLOWING SCIENTISTS TO FOLLOW THEIR MOVEMENTS. ADULT CONDORS ARE ABOUT 4 AND A HALF FEET LONG WITH A WING SPAN OF UP TO 10 FEET, ALLOWING THEM TO GLIDE AT ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR. FEMALE CONDORS LAY 1 EGG EVERY OTHER YEAR. RECENTLY 2 PREVIOUSLY RELEASED CONDORS HAD TO BE CAPTURED AND RETRAINED, AFTER THEY WERE DISCOVERED SITTING ON POWER POLES.

FROM THE SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT, SERGEANT ONO SOLIS TOLD KSCO NEWS THAT THIS MORNING THEY WERE NOTIFIED A CITY PARK EMPLOYEE HAD FOUND A LARGE AMOUNT OF NARCOTICS. THE DISCOVERY WAS MADE AT NORTHGATE PARK IN NORTH SALINAS, WHICH IS IN THE AREA OF CHEROKEE DRIVE AND SEVILLE STREET. THE NARCOTICS INCLUDED OVER 2 POUNDS OF SUSPECTED COCAINE AND SEVERAL OUNCES OF SUSPECTED METHAMPHETAMINE. THE NARCOTICS WERE TURNED OVER TO THE SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION.

THE HUMAN REMAINS, THAT WERE FOUND 10 DAYS AGO IN KERN COUNTY, ARE THOSE OF A LOCAL MAN. 48 YEAR-OLD SALINAS RESIDENT PETER ATKINSON WENT MISSING 12 YEARS AGO, WHILE ON A VACATION. HE REPORTEDLY SENT HIS FAMILY A POSTCARD, SAYING HIS VEHICLE HAD BROKEN DOWN AND HE WAS GOING TO HITCHHIKE HOME. HE HAD BEEN MISSING SINCE APRIL OF 1992. INVESTIGATORS SAY IT LOOKS LIKE ATKINSON FELL MORE THAN 100 FEET DOWN A CLIFF, BUT THEY DON?T KNOW YET IF IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, OR IF HE WAS MURDERED.