A grim silence hangs over the 600 block of Leon Avenue in Modesto, where a local man fell victim to a fatal shooting just days ago. Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office disclosed in a social media post that deputies were dispatched last Wednesday evening in response to the violent incident, which claimed the life of Donnie Boatman, age 38. Despite rapid transport to the hospital and intensive efforts by medical staff, Boatman's injuries proved insurmountable, and he was declared dead soon after.
The tragic event has since cascaded into a swift surge of law enforcement action as detectives from the Major Crimes Unit immediately launched an investigation into Boatman's murder, a narrative disrupted by tragedy that continues to unfold within the local community as it reels from violence, detectives responded to the scene and corralled initial leads that pointed to a vehicle swiftly fleeing from the scene, which, in concert with additional pieces of information, led to a breakthrough.
Almost as quickly as the chaos erupted, a suspect emerged from the depths of the investigation. This past Thursday, less than 24 hours after the fatal shots were fired, authorities apprehended 34-year-old Dontae Galindo near the original crime scene. Galindo now faces dire charges of murder and felon in possession of a firearm, with a rap sheet that predates this incident—his criminal history stained with prior arrests for grave offenses including attempted murder, drug possession and manufacturing, and obstructing a peace officer.
Details of Galindo's arrest and subsequent booking into Stanislaus County Jail were succinctly conveyed by the Sheriff's Office, signaling the department's ongoing efforts in seeking justice for the untimely death of Boatman, anyone with further knowledge of the crime is urged to come forth, as the Sheriff's Office implores those who might hold key insights to contact Detective Summerton at (209) 525-7117 or to provide anonymous tips through Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at (866) 602-7463.
