Two arrested in gang shooting in downtown Merced, police say

Merced police have arrested two people, including one juvenile, in connection with a gang-related shooting last month in downtown Merced.

In a news release Friday, Merced police identified a 17-year-old male as the suspected shooter and Alejandro Garcia Jr., an 18-year-old Atwater man, was described as the driver of the getaway vehicle following the attack, Detective-Sgt. Rey Alvarez said.

Investigators said both suspects are believed to have ties to an area street gang. On the night of July 21, they spotted a man they believe was a possible gang rival in the area of the 1700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Police believe the suspects walked up to the victim and the 17-year-old male opened fire, striking the victim multiple times.

The shooter and another suspect fled the area in a white vehicle.

Investigators found that Garcia was the driver of the vehicle, according to the release. Later, they identified the 17-year-old male as the shooter.

Merced detectives, along with the help of the SWAT team, Merced Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement team and the Merced County Sheriff’s Department, served five search warrants on July 26 in the Winton and Atwater areas.

Officers arrested Garcia and the 17-year-old and found a handgun, the release states.

Alvarez said the weapon used in the July 21 attack has not been found.

Garcia was booked into Merced County Jail the morning of July 26 on suspicion of attempted murder and was in custody Friday with a $500,000 bond amount, according to jail records.

The 17-year-old juvenile, who wasn’t named in the release, was booked into juvenile hall for attempted murder, the release states.

Anyone with information on the shooting is being asked to contact Detective Jeff Horn at 209-388-7739. Anonymous text messages can be sent to the Merced Police Department by texting to the number “TIP411,” or 847411, and including the word “Comvip” as the keyword in the text message.