Following an attempt at taking a young man's life last month in Ceres, a 16-year-old male has been arrested, as detailed by the Ceres Police Department in a recent social media update. This development comes in the wake of a 19-year-old male who was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds, sustaining non-life-threatening injuries, in the 2300 block of Caswell Avenue.
Officers and immediate medical aid arrived at the scene, finding the victim after responding to the disturbance report. The victim, with the aid of medical professionals from American Medical Response (AMR) and Modesto Fire Department personnel, received timely care and was transported to a local hospital, as reported by the Ceres Police Department. Despite the suspect's flight prior to their arrival, the police have pieced together a narrative of what transpired in those shadowed early morning hours.
The Ceres Police Department's Investigations Division, after an in-depth investigation, pointed to the 16-year-old from Ceres as the assailant in an attempted murder case. On Wednesday, armed with an arrest warrant for the suspect and a search warrant for his residence, the department's SWAT Team accompanied detectives to the house located on the 1900 block of Pleasant Avenue. The juvenile suspect surrendered to authorities without resistance and faces charges related to attempted murder, though his identity remains shielded due to his juvenile status.
Evidence collected during the subsequent investigation indicates a possibility of gang motivation behind the shooting. While the suspect remains in custody, detectives labor to weave together the remaining threads of this case. "Investigators do not believe this was a random act of violence," this according to the official statement from the Ceres Police Department. The community, shaken by the brutality of the event, is asked to come forward with any information that might assist Detective Welsh, who can be contacted at (209) 538-5616.
