2 fatal shootings Friday in Winton gang-related, investigators say

Two homicides reported several hours apart Friday in Winton were gang-related, but there is no connection between the cases, the Merced County Sheriff’s Department said Monday.

“There is nothing that connects them,” Sgt. Delray Shelon said in a telephone interview. “The second one was believed to be not retaliation for the first one or anything like that.”

Jerman Gaspar, 21, was shot and killed just before 8 p.m. Friday near Winton Way and Walnut Avenue. A 14-year-old boy also was shot during the same incident. He was taken to a Modesto hospital and is expected to recover, authorities said.

Hours earlier, around midnight, a man was gunned down in the 7300 block of Edyth Circle in Winton. Few details have been released, including the victim’s identity.

Deputies have declined to discuss the circumstances surrounding each case, citing a need to protect the investigations.

Detectives have also declined to to release many details regarding a slaying Sept. 20 in Delhi, also to protect the casework.

No arrests have been made in any of the three slayings.

Authorities are asking anyone with information regarding the slayings to contact sheriff’s detectives at 209-385-7445 or mercedareacrimestoppers.com.

This story was originally published September 28, 2015 at 2:43 PM with the headline "2 fatal shootings Friday in Winton gang-related, investigators say."