Four men arrested after shots fired at 3 different Merced residences, police say
Four suspects were arrested on suspicion of firing shots at three different residences on Friday morning, according to the Merced Police Department.
Officers responded to the first call of shots fired on the 2600 block of 8th Avenue at 12:48 a.m. Officers located a residence with several bullet strikes and found several cartridge casings at the scene.
At 2:22 a.m., police responded to another call of a home being struck by bullets in the 1100 block of Evening Star Drive. While at the scene, officers learned the victims received notification from another family member that their residence, on the 2800 block of Santa Cruz Court, was also struck by bullets.
Cartridge casings were found at both the Evening Star and Santa Cruz locations.
All three victims of the shootings were family members. Officers learned that all three victims had recent problems with suspect William Pia, 20, of Merced.
When officers arrived at Pia’s home, he was uncooperative and made statements regarding the shootings.
After detectives obtained a search warrant for Pia’s home in the 3700 block of Quail Avenue, officers say they found two handguns, ammunition, gloves and ski masks. A controlled substance was also found.
Police were able to detain six individuals and question them regarding the shooting.
According to detectives, Pia confessed to committing all three shootings. The detectives also said that PIa was with Brandon Darrett, 19; Johnny Shamoun, 20; and Joseph Pia, 18, during the shooting.
All subjects were arrested on suspicion of shooting at three inhabited dwellings and conspiracy for their involvement.
Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Detective Salyers at 209-388-7771. The public can send information via anonymous text messages to police department by dialing “TIP411” (847411) and including the word “Comvip” as the “keyword” in the text message
