Shot fired during argument at Atwater liquor store

A Winton man was jailed early Monday after police said he fired a shot in the air during an argument with a liquor store employee in Atwater, the Police Department said.

There were no injuries.

Dillon T. Boldroff, 20, is accused of firing the shot around 12:45 a.m. outside Bobbi’s Liquor on First Street in Atwater. Boldroff and others had argued with store employees, and Boldroff fired the shot as they were leaving, Lt. Samuel Joseph said.

Officers spotted Boldroff’s vehicle, a silver Ford Mustang, a short time later on Atwater Boulevard. The officer noted the vehicle “suddenly” changed lanes as the officers pulled in behind it. Police stopped the car on SP Avenue. Officers searched Boldroff and found a high-capacity gun magazine but no gun, Joseph said.

Two men who were with Boldroff, identified by police as Toni Estacio, age unavailable, and Cody Lane, 19, both denied knowing anything about a gunshot, Joseph said.

Officers returned to the area on Atwater Boulevard where the vehicle had abruptly changed lanes and found a loaded 9mm semi-automatic firearm, which matched the magazine Boldroff was carrying, police said.

“During subsequent questioning, Boldroff admitted to having discharged the firearm into the air following a verbal dispute with owners/employees of the store and admitted to discarding the firearm when he observed the officer turn around,” Joseph said.

Police said Lane was wanted on two warrants and arrested. Details of the warrants were not available Monday. Estacio was released.

Boldroff was booked into the Merced County Jail on suspicion of negligently discharging a firearm, tampering with identification marks on a firearm, petty theft and using “offensive words in a public place,” according to booking records.

Bail was set at approximately $65,000.

This story was originally published May 30, 2016 at 10:56 AM with the headline "Shot fired during argument at Atwater liquor store."