Four arrested in Monday shooting of teen boy and girl

Four suspects are in custody in connection with Monday's shooting of two 17-year-olds in Planada, the Merced County Sheriff's Department reported.

Meanwhile, sheriff's investigators on Wednesday revealed an appalling alleged motive behind the shooting: the mere color of one of the victim's shirt.

The suspects have been identified as Merced residents Johnny Munoz, 21, Ramon Manzo, 22, Ezquiel Castillo and a 17-year-old juvenile, according to Deputy Tom MacKenzie, sheriff's spokesman.

Munoz was arrested not long after deputies served a search warrant Wednesday morning at his Mimi Lane apartment residence, where investigators found ammunition. Manzo and the juvenile were arrested after deputies served a search warrant Tuesday in the 1500 block of Ellen Court. There, deputies reported finding guns. Castillo was arrested Tuesday after law enforcement pulled over his vehicle at 23rd and F streets.

The suspects are known gang members, investigators said.

MacKenzie said investigators believe they have the guns used in Monday's shooting, although forensic tests will be necessary for confirmation.

The victims, identified by friends as Monica Garcia and Justin Gonzales, were shot around 10:45 p.m. Monday while talking in front of a residence in the 9000 block of Broadway Avenue. Investigators said the victims noticed the car carrying the suspects had driven by several times before the shooting. As the pair were about to go back inside the house, the suspects stopped the car and someone got out and fired, striking both victims.

Garcia and Gonzales are expected to survive. Garcia was shot in the head, while Gonzales was struck in the back.

MacKenzie said investigators believe there may have been more than one shooter.

Through interviews with the suspects, detectives believe the pair were targeted because Gonzales was wearing a blue shirt -- the same color worn by the suspects' rival gang. Generally, red is associated with Norteno gang members, blue with Sureno gang members.

Regardless of the shirt color, investigators confirmed Gonzales isn't a gang member -- and by all accounts he's a well-rounded teenager with no criminal background. "This kid had no gang ties whatsoever," MacKenzie said. "It's a real tragedy when something like this happens. We're glad that we have all four suspects in custody."

John Flanagan, pastor of Bible Christian Church of Le Grand, where Gonzales is a member, said he's known the victim since childhood. Flanagan described Gonzales as a "great young man" who spent two weeks this summer as a counselor at a Christian camp.

Flanagan said the members of his church are praying for Garcia's and Gonzales' recovery. "It's like being slugged in the stomach. We're just asking for divine intervention in our community."

The night of the shooting, Gonzales was in Planada to console his girlfriend, who had a tough volleyball game, Flanagan said. Gonzales is a recent graduate of Le Grand High, while Garcia is a student there.

It's not the first time in Merced County someone has been shot or assaulted, merely because of a color of clothes he was wearing. Jose Francisco Hernandez, 23, was shot and killed Oct. 12, 2007, in a drive-by shooting at the intersection of West 11th and O streets in South Merced.

Merced police believe Hernandez was targeted mainly because he was wearing red San Francisco 49ers sports gear. Elias Ulises Serrano, 27, the primary suspect in Hernandez's death, remains at large.

Last year, a UC Merced student was beaten outside Food 4 Less in Merced because he was wearing a blue Los Angeles Dodgers jacket. The May 1 incident happened after the student was walking groceries to his car. Rance Johnson, 19, and another person approached the victim and asked him what gang he belonged to, according to a police report.

The student told Johnson he didn't belong to a gang, but Johnson ordered him to take off his jacket, saying the store's parking lot was "his territory." Johnson hit him and continued beating the victim after he fell on the ground.

Johnson was arrested after Merced police reviewed surveillance footage captured on the store's video camera. During questioning, investigators told Johnson the victim was a college student and not a rival gang member. "Oh well," Johnson replied, according to the police report. Johnson is serving a 15-years-to-life sentence for an unrelated shooting.

A Saturday prayer walk is being organized in Planada as a response to Monday night's shooting.

The walk is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Houlihan Park, 9167 Stanford Ave. in Planada.

For more information, send an e-mail to Carole Farnsworth at JohnANDCaroleF@aol.com.

Merced County sheriff's deputies are asking anyone with information about Monday's shooting to call (209) 385-7472. Calls are kept confidential and you can remain anonymous.

Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsun-star.com.