Merced police looking for suspect accused of stabbing teen at warehouse

Police are looking for a 18-year-old suspect accused of stabbing a juvenile multiple times at a south Merced business on Wednesday.

At 10:51 a.m., officers responded to a package courier warehouse in the 200 block of South West Avenue for a reported stabbing, according to Lt. Emily Foster. Officers arrived on scene at the OnTrac business and contacted the 16-year-old male victim, according to a Merced Police Department news release.

Foster said suspect Mateo Soriano, 18, and the 16-year-old male victim are believed to be employees at the warehouse. According to Foster, detectives are in the early stages of an investigation into the altercation.

Foster said a motive for the stabbing is unknown at this time, but that it appears as if they were involved in some type of dispute at work when Soriano stabbed the victim several times. Witnesses told police the altercation was a result of a disagreement over work equipment, according to the release.

The teen was taken by helicopter to an area hospital and is in stable condition, according to Foster. Police are continuing to look for witnesses and any video surveillance from the area.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Lupian at 209-385-6905 or by email at lupianc@cityofmerced.org. The Merced Police Department can also be contacted on the non-emergency line at 209-385-6912.

Anonymous tips can be left for police by calling 209-385-4725 and some crimes can be reported through the Merced Police Department website.

Tips can also be left anonymously through the Merced Area Crime Stoppers website.

This story was originally published August 18, 2021 at 1:58 PM.