Ceres police responded to a report of gunshots early on New Year’s Day. According to a department social media update, the incident occurred around 12:23 a.m. on Charlotte Avenue, where a single bullet went through the rear glass door of a home and lodged in an interior wall. No injuries were reported, though a family member was nearby at the time.
Investigators determined the gunfire likely originated from a residence on Joy Avenue, several blocks away. Ceres police identified a suspect and obtained a search warrant for the location. During the search, officers found a short-barreled rifle and two handguns. Police identified the suspect as 45-year-old Juan Carlos Valencia Diaz, who was taken into custody and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center, according to the department.
Police reported that two of the firearms recovered during the search were unregistered. A third firearm was also not registered to Diaz or to any other resident at the address. Authorities noted the findings as part of the ongoing investigation into the incident.
