Atwater police investigating woman’s shooting death, no suspects in custody

Atwater police are investigating the city’s first homicide of the year after a woman was shot and killed Tuesday night.

Police are questioning a male subject and looking for a person of interest

Officers responded at about 10:15 pm to the 3000 block of Secretariat Drive after a male told the reporting party his girlfriend was the victim of a shooting, according to an Atwater Police Department news release.

The arriving officers located the injured woman near a silver Honda at the intersection of Secretariat Drive and Belmont Street, according to an Atwater Police Department news release.

Arriving officers located the woman inside a vehicle. Life-saving measures were attempted but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers investigated the scene and surrounding area for evidence which led them to a residence half a block north of where officers located the victim.

It is at this location where officers located the shooting evidence, according to the release. “We found evidence of at least two gunshots,” said Salvador

Results of an autopsy are pending at this time, and the identity of the victim has not been released.

Officers are also looking for a person of interest who has been identified as Fernando Perez, driving a light colored BMW or Mercedes sedan with front end damage.

Detectives and officers are in the preliminary phase of the investigation. “It’s still really really early, we’re not releasing names until next of kin are notified,” Salvador said.

Authorities said detectives are working to follow up on leads as well as collecting any evidence and canvasing the area. Police said a motive for the shooting is unknown at this time.

Police said it is unknown why the victim was in the area. Officers searched the area for any surveillance footage in an effort to determine the events surrounding the shooting.

Police ask anyone with information to contact the Atwater Police Department at 209-357-6384 and ask for Detective-Sgt. Brum or Detective Vargas.

This story was originally published February 2, 2022 at 9:47 AM.