Guns, vehicles seized in late-night homicide investigation in Merced
Merced County sheriff’s detectives have seized at least three handguns and four vehicles in connection with the death of a man on Tuesday in the Beachwood-area of Merced, Sheriff Vern Warnke confirmed.
“We do now know that this was a drug deal gone bad,” Warnke said in a telephone interview.
Three people were shot, including one fatally, just after 2 p.m. Tuesday in the 2900 block of Maple Street. The other two men who were shot were taken to area hospitals. One of them is believed to be in “serious” condition and other was shot in the arm, according to the sheriff.
Their identities have not been released.
Numerous marijuana plants were found the backyard of the home and investigators believe the violence was related to the black-market crop.
“We do believe most everyone involved in this was armed during the incident,” Warnke said.
The sheriff confirmed at least three and possibly a fourth firearm — all handguns — have been taken for evidence, along with four vehicles believed to have been involved in the violence. He declined to comment on any details regarding the vehicles and weapons.
“The detectives have been moving very quickly since the incident,” Warnke said late Tuesday.
Investigators served a search warrant in the area of Highway 59 and Lacava Road in Merced. Evidence was seized in connection with the homicide, but Warnke declined to elaborate, citing a need to protect the investigation.
The sheriff’s SWAT Team has assisted with the serving the warrants.
No arrests had been made as of Tuesday night, but detectives have identified “multiple” suspects, Warnke said.
Warnke said he could not comment on other aspects of the investigation, including whether the three people shot were on the same or different sides of the violence.
Tuesday’s death was the second homicide in Merced County within 24 hours. A man was fatally shot Monday evening on Park Street in Atwater.
The violence brings the number of homicides in 2015 in Merced County to 27.
Anyone with information about this case or other activity is asked to contact the Merced County Sheriff’s Office’s investigations unit at 209-385-7472. Tips are confidential and callers may remain anonymous.
This story was originally published October 20, 2015 at 11:04 PM with the headline "Guns, vehicles seized in late-night homicide investigation in Merced."