Merced-area shooting kills two, sends one to hospital. Deputies continue investigation

A shooting late Saturday between Merced and Atwater claimed the lives of two people and sent a third person to a hospital.

The Merced County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies were dispatched to the area of Santa Fe Drive and Franklin Road. There, they found three shooting victims, two of whom were dead at the scene.

As of Sunday morning, the injured victim was reported to be in critical but stable condition at a local hospital.

Deputies closed Santa Fe Road to westbound traffic at Belcher Avenue; eastbound traffic was being stopped at Fox Road. Santa Fe Drive was reopened to traffic about 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on the shooting to contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigations Bureau at (209) 385-7445.

This story was originally published July 3, 2022 at 8:15 AM.

Tim Sheehan

The Fresno Bee

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Lifelong Valley resident Tim Sheehan has worked as a reporter and editor in the region since 1986, and has been with The Fresno Bee since 1998. He is currently The Bee’s data reporter and also covers California’s high-speed rail project and other transportation issues. He grew up in Madera, has a journalism degree from Fresno State and a master’s degree in leadership studies from Fresno Pacific University. Support my work with a digital subscription