Gang Shooter Arrested - Victim Still Critical
from:City Of Modesto category:Government and Politics posted:April 16th, 2008
Modesto, CA – Gunfire erupted mid-day Saturday afternoon on a busy street in west Modesto causing a critical injury to a teenager. The thirteen year old victim was shot through the abdomen and is still in intensive care at a local hospital. Modesto Police Investigators worked through the night Sunday morning and eventually arrested two adults for the assault.
The shooting occurred about 1:00 p.m. in front of the Shell gas station at Maze Boulevard and Martin Luther King Drive. The victim, a 13 year old gang member, was shot as he was standing near the front doors of the store. The shooter was in a sport utility vehicle, wearing a long sleeved red shirt. He leaned out of the vehicle’s passenger side window as it drove by and fired several rounds, one of which struck the victim. The suspect vehicle then left and emergency personnel responded to the victim, who was transported to a local hospital.
About an hour later, a man entered the hospital with a gunshot wound to his foot. Investigators began focusing on him after questioning him about his version of how he was shot. After an extensive investigation and interviews, Antonio Hernandez 19 years, of Modesto and Vivian Hernandez 22 years, were arrested for attempted murder, gang enhancements and felony weapons violations. Each one has a bail amount of a half million dollars. The weapon has not been recovered as of yet.
Officer Robert Gumm, a gang investigator said this was a clear gang clash. “One gang member was a Sureno and the shooter was a Norteno who was triggered to violence simply by the color blue”. The investigation is continuing as police try to locate the weapon and any other witnesses to the incident.
If anyone has any information about this crime, they are encouraged to call the Modesto Police Department at (209) 572-9551 and ask to speak with Detective Beffa with Crimes Against Persons.
If you have any questions about this press release, please contact Sgt. Ed Steele, Modesto Police Department Media Relations at (209) 652-0032.
