Merced police investigate fatal shooting of two teens. Here’s what happened
The investigation into the fatal shooting of two Merced teenagers continues on Wednesday, the Merced Police Department said.
The boys, each 14 years old, were killed in the shooting that happened Monday night near the Merced Behavioral Center on E. 13th Street. Their bodies were found around 7 p.m. on Monday, police said.
The shootings are not believed to be gang-related or tied to the other recent shootings in Merced, according to MPD Lt. Jose Barajas.
A makeshift memorial has been set up near the scene of the shooting, outside the Merced Urology Medical Group building on E. 13th Street.
According to yourcentralvalley.com, families identified the victims as Xavier Barragan and Nehemiah Green.
Police said there are no suspects at this time and the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about the incident can contact the Merced Police Department at 209-385-6905.
Rash of shootings in Merced
Monday’s deaths means that three teenagers have been killed in Merced shootings since mid-November.
Davarion Granados, 16, was shot and killed by a known gang member on Lesher Street on Nov. 19.
Two other teens, ages 18 and 19, were shot outside the Little Caesars at West 16th and G streets on Jan. 2. Both teens survived. That shooting was also suspected to be gang-related. Two suspects, one 17 and one 19, have been arrested in San Diego, Barajas siad.
On Saturday night, 23-year-old Angel Barrios was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds outside a house on Austin Ave. in Merced. That shooting is believed to be gang-related and in retaliation for the Little Caesars shooting, Barajas said.
Barajas said that while Merced has seen a decrease in gang violence over the past year, the city is seeing a spike in gang-related shootings.
“These little spikes happen,” he said. “That’s why we’ve amped up our Gang Violence Suppression Unit, which is working seven days a week.”
This story was originally published January 21, 2026 at 1:10 PM.
