An investigation into two drive-by shootings that happened days apart in the same Turlock neighborhood and wounded two has resulted in three arrests, the Turlock Police Department reported.
The first shooting happened at 12:40 p.m. on July 22 in the 400 block of Locust Street and wounded a 19-year-old man. The second shooting was at 5 p.m. on July 28, also in the 400 block of Locust Street. In that incident a 17-year-old boy was struck by the gunfire and sustained a non-life-threatening injury, according to the police department.
The shootings were found to be gang-related and were investigated by the police department’s Special Investigations Unit.
Both victims were known to each other but it’s unknown if one shooting was a retaliation for the other.
In the July 22 incident, three individuals were standing in the parking lot of the church in the area when an unknown vehicle pulled up near them. The driver of the vehicle, believed to be the sole occupant of the vehicle, got out and started firing a gun at the three individuals and hit the 19-year-old man in the leg, said Turlock Police spokesman Sgt. Paul Inderbitzen.
Officers were the first to arrive at the scene and provided medical aid to the 19-year-old until emergency medical technicians arrived. He was taken to a Modesto hospital for treatment and cooperated with detectives in the investigation.
Officers were able to gather evidence at the scene, including multiple bullet casings and had statements from witnesses. Detectives also gathered surveillance from the area.
The vehicle was described as a black or dark-colored SUV, possibly a Jeep Cherokee.
The suspect was described as a Hispanic male, possibly in his early 20s or late teens. He was wearing a black shirt and black jeans. He had a long ponytail. He fled the scene immediately after the shooting.
The second incident occurred just days later and involved multiple individuals.
“Based on the investigation, a group of subjects were walking on Locust Street and started a verbal disturbance with a group of subjects at a residence,” Inderbitzen said.
The verbal disturbance escalated into a fight with baseball bats being thrown. Then shots were fired by the group that had been walking and a 17-year-old was struck by a bullet. The injury was considered non-life-threatening and the teenager was treated at a local hospital.
The group that started the disturbance fled the scene and were not located at the time.
The investigations into both shootings began to take shape and on Aug. 1, with the assistance of the Mountain View Police Department’s SWAT team, a search warrant was executed at an address in that city. Investigators located and arrested Edgar Mendoza-Montejano, a 19-year-old from Mountain View, in connection with the July 22 shooting. Mendoza-Montejano was booked into the Stanislaus County Jail on attempted murder charges, said Turlock Police spokeswoman Dominique Sanchez.
On the morning of Aug. 21, the Turlock SWAT team, supported by Ceres SWAT and the Merced County Sheriff’s SWAT teams, conducted search warrants in the 600 block of Chestnut Street in Turlock and at an address in Winton in connection with the July 28 shooting. Two male juveniles were arrested and booked into Stanislaus County Juvenile Hall; one for conspiracy and being a juvenile in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and the other for attempted murder. Firearms located at one of the residences have been seized for evidence, Sanchez said.
“The Turlock Police Department appreciates the support from the Mountain View Police Department, Merced County Sheriff’s Office, Merced County Probation, Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit, and Ceres Police Department. Our law enforcement partnerships strengthen our ability to make our communities safer,” the police department said in a released statement.
The Turlock Police Department asks anyone with information about the July 22nd shooting to call Investigator Beringer at (209) 664-7347. For information regarding the July 28th shooting, please call Investigator Ramos at (209) 668-6564. You can also contact the Turlock Police Department’s Tip Line at (209) 668-5550 extension 6780 or email at tpdtipline@turlock.ca.us.
The Turlock Police Department is an active participant in the Crime Stoppers Program. Callers can leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636 or (866) 602-7463 and you may be eligible for a cash reward. You can also leave an anonymous tip online at www.stancrimetips.org or by texting “StanCS” to 738447. The P3 app is also available for download for Apple and Android devices.
