An 18-month-old girl was shot in the chest and killed this morning at 2370 Shore Road, and San Benito County authorities have two suspects in custody, Undersheriff Pat Turturici said.
Although Turturici declined to identify the two people or their relationship to the child, the residents of that address are John and Cheryl Busch. A San Benito County Jail worker, meanwhile, told the Free Lance authorities had been ordered they cannot release any information, including public records, on either of them.
Authorities responding to the rural area outside Hollister shortly before 9 a.m. found a .357 Magnum outside the house, but they hadn't verified if it's the weapon used against the child, Turturici said.
"This is terrible. This is heartbreaking," said Turturici, who declined to comment further.
Sheriff Curtis Hill when reached by phone said authorities would not release anymore information until an 11 a.m. Thursday press conference.
"Two suspects are in custody. The crime scene is being processed, and the victim in Salinas will undergo an autopsy, and we'll have information at the press conference tomorrow at 11," Hill said.
Many sheriff's officers responded this morning, and District Attorney Candice Hooper also arrived on the scene.
San Benito County firefighters, meanwhile, entered the house at around 10:30 a.m. with a chainsaw, but the purpose was unclear.
The property includes a house, two barns and poultry-like pens. A woman on the property shortly after the report was crying and visibly upset and at one point had to be examined by paramedics.
Jeff Gatlin Jeff Gatlin is a staff writer at The Hollister Free Lance. You can call him at (831) 637-5566 or send him an email.
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