On July 21, 2018, the Merced Police Department (MPD) received a call of shots fired in the 1700 block of Martin Luther King Jr Way. Officers arrived and located a Hispanic male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local area hospital for treatment.
Shortly after the shooting, MPD detectives began investigating the case. Detectives learned that the suspects in the shooting confronted the victim. During the confrontation, one of the suspects shot the victim multiple times. After the shooting, the suspects got into a white vehicle and fled the area. Detectives were able to identify the driver of the white vehicle as Alejandro Garcia Jr. As detectives continued to work on the case, they were able to identify the shooter as a 17 year old male juvenile.
On July 26, 2018, five search warrants in relation to this shooting were served in the Winton and Atwater area. The warrants were served by MPD detectives and the MPD SWAT team. MAGNET and the Merced County Sheriff’s Department also assisted with the service of the search warrants.
Through the service of the warrants, MPD detectives were able to arrest Garcia and the 17 year old shooter. Additionally, one handgun was recovered during the search warrant service. Garcia was booked at the Merced County Jail for attempted murder. The 17 year old juvenile was booked into juvenile hall for attempted murder as well.
Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Detective Jeff Horn at (209) 388-7739.
