10th homicide of the year reported in Merced
A 45-year-old Merced man was stabbed to death early Wednesday on West 16th Street in Merced, the Police Department confirmed.
The victim was identified as Robert Roman Gonzales, according to Merced County Coroner’s Office.
He was found dead around 1:15 a.m. in the parking lot of a pharmacy in the area of R and West 16th streets, Detective Chris Russell said.
Gonzales was stabbed at least once in the chest. He died at the scene, police said in a news release.
Police were called to the area to investigate a report of several people, including juveniles, assaulting a man. “The suspects had left the crime scene before police arrival,” officials said in the news release.
Investigators believe Gonzales was involved in an altercation near a Mexican restaurant and then went to the parking lot across the street, where he was found by police, Russell said.
“There was a large, continuous crime scene that spanned the restaurant area, the street and the parking lot of Walgreens,” Russell said in a telephone interview.
No arrests have been made, he said.
The detective said it was too early in the investigation to comment on motive.
The death marks the 10th homicide of the year in the city and the 29th in the county.
Merced Police Department Investigations Division is asking for citizens who witnessed this crime or know the identity of the suspect or suspects to contact Detective Sgt. Curt Gorman at 209-385-4706, Detective Chris Russell at 209-385-6912 or the Police Department tip line at 209-385-4725. Callers may remain anonymous and tips are confidential.
This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 10:26 AM with the headline "10th homicide of the year reported in Merced."