Atwater resident says passer-by shot at him

ATWATER -- Atwater police are searching for a man who shot at a resident in the 1100 block of Herman Street at 9:53 p.m. Tuesday evening, Lt. Sam Joseph reported.

Joseph said the 20-year-old resident said he was standing on his front porch when he was approached by an unidentified male wearing a black hoodie. The man was walking south on Herman Street.

According to police, the resident asked the man for a cigarette when he walked up to his porch. He said the man replied "What's up?" and then pulled a .45-caliber handgun from his waistband.

The victim began running, and the gunman fired six to seven times, Joseph said. The casings were recovered by officers on the scene. No injuries were reported.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Atwater police Detective Cardoza at (209) 357-6394.

Reporter Ramona Giwargis can be reached at (209) 385-2477 or rgiwargis@mercedsunstar.com.