Search continues for suspects in Atwater homicide

The search continued Monday for the suspect or suspects responsible for the slaying of an 18-year-old Atwater man, who was stabbed to death at the Applegate Inn.

Sergio Avelar died around 2:30 a.m. Saturday at a room inside the motel on Sycamore Avenue. Atwater police have declined to comment on details of the case, citing a need to protect their investigation.

“The detectives are still working on important leads in the case,” Lt. Samuel Joseph told the Sun-Star in a telephone interview Monday.

Detectives believe there was a gathering, possibly a party, inside the motel room when violence erupted.

The weapon used in the attack has not been located, officers said.

Managers of the motel did not respond to requests for comment.

Efforts to reach Avelar’s family were unsuccessful Monday.

Avelar’s death marks the first homicide of 2016 in Merced County. Last year, the county reported a total of 31 homicides, one below the record high of 32 set one year earlier in 2014.

Merced County has reported 30 or more homicides each of the last three years.

The city of Atwater reported three homicides in 2015.

This story was originally published February 1, 2016 at 4:51 PM with the headline "Search continues for suspects in Atwater homicide."