Update: Merced police arrest 3 in a deadly shooting that happened among group of youths
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Three people have been arrested in connection with a shooting early Saturday that left a teenager dead among a large gathering of youths at a parking garage in Merced.
A 16-year-old was arrested on suspicion of murder, discharging a firearm at an occupied vehicle and other weapons and gang charges, police said in a news release posted on the department’s Facebook page.
Another 16-year old was arrested on suspicion of weapon and gang charges, and Marcos Montoya, 25, of Merced, was arrested on suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm in a public place and possession of an unregistered firearm.
Police identified the person killed as 18-year-old Elyas Jerry Aguilar. Three other people were taken to trauma centers, police said.
The teen arrested on the murder charge was being treated for a gunshot wound and will be booked into the Merced County Jail after receiving medical clearance. Montoya was armed but wound up shooting himself, according to investigators.
The shooting happened about 3:12 a.m., on the top floor of a parking structure at 19th and M streets, across from City Hall. Police said they “arrrived at the scene, which was best described as chaotic.”
“There was a large group of younger kids up there,” Lt. Joey Perez said late Saturday morning, before the arrests were announced. “I don’t know the exact number, but there was a lot. So they’re (police) interviewing lots of people, and people that left. We’re going to try to track down more witnesses that were there.”
Police said there were “numerous people fleeing on foot and in vehicles, some of them armed” after a fight broke out.
Detectives determined there was an exchange of gunfire after a 16-year-old fired several shots at an occupied vehicle. The second teenage suspect tried to flee with what detectives believed was the gun used in the fatal shooting, police said.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Det. Steven Odom at 209-388-7814 or odoms@cityofmerced.org, or Det. Raymond Valadez at 209-388-7829 or valadezr@cityofmerced.org. The case number is 22-59445.
Other ways to contact police:
▪ For non-emergencies, call 209-385-6912.
▪ The anonymous tip line (non-emergency) is 209-385-4725.
▪ Anonymous tips can also be submitted online at mercedareacrimestoppers.org.
▪ Some crimes can be reported online through Merced Police Department’s website, cityofmerced.org/departments/police.
This story was originally published October 8, 2022 at 11:07 AM.
