Atwater teen will survive gunshot to the head, police say
A 17-year-old boy remained in critical but stable condition Friday, two days after he was shot in the head in an apparent clash between rival street gangs in Atwater, the Police Department reported.
The teenager is expected to survive, Lt. Samuel Joseph said. No arrests have been made, and no weapons have been recovered.
Officers said a confrontation between rival gangs occurred around 6:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Jack in the Box at 1898 Bellevue Road.
The groups argued outside the restaurant, according to police. At least one person was armed and was seen chasing several apparently unarmed rival gang members in the drive-through area, officers said.
Exactly where the shooting occurred remains unclear. Police said the victim has been uncooperative with investigators. Investigators seized a bullet-riddled vehicle on Willowbrook Drive in Merced that they believe may have been involved in the incident.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Atwater Police Department detectives unit at (209) 357-6394.
This story was originally published December 5, 2014 at 8:23 PM with the headline "Atwater teen will survive gunshot to the head, police say."