Maple Street homicide victim identified

A man shot and killed last week in what the Merced County sheriff described as a “drug deal gone bad” was formally identified Monday by the Coroner’s Office as a 35-year-old resident of Mexico.

Heriberto Verdiales-Valasquez was shot and killed Oct. 20 during an apparent gunfight sparked by a dispute over marijuana. Two other people were also shot during the incident, but are expected to recover, the Sheriff’s Office has said.

“By all indications, it looked like the OK Corral out here,” Sheriff Vern Warnke said last week.

Sheriff’s detectives confirmed they have identified several suspects in the case, but have declined to release their identities, saying disclosing those names could harm the ongoing investigation.

Detectives have recovered four handguns and four vehicles believed to be connected to the suspected marijuana-related violence.

A dozen marijuana plants were found in the backyard of the home on Maple Street and several packages of clipped marijuana buds were found inside. Blood was also found inside the home, investigators said.

Investigators believe multiple people exchanged gunfire during the incident, but have declined to elaborate.

Residents in the area reported hearing up to a dozen gunshots around 2 p.m. Oct. 20.

This story was originally published October 26, 2015 at 6:10 PM with the headline "Maple Street homicide victim identified."