A woman was shot and killed early Sunday inside a home in the 2000 block of Edward Street in Los Banos, and police have arrested a 37-year-old man on suspicion of homicide. Officers who responded to a 911 call at 12:11 AM found an adult female suffering from a gunshot wound and attempted lifesaving measures before she was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the Westside Connect, officers also contacted an adult male at the residence, and Joseph Swanson was taken into custody. The Los Banos Police Department, in a Facebook post, confirmed detectives recovered the firearm used in the shooting at the home and said the case is being investigated as domestic violence, not gang-related. The Merced Sun-Star likewise reported that Los Banos police confirmed the shooting involved an adult female victim and that detectives had explicitly ruled out gang activity.
Victim's Identity Withheld Pending Notification
The victim's name has not been released. The Merced County Coroner's Office will identify her only after next of kin have been notified, the Westside Connect reported, an open question that remains unresolved as of today. Police have asked anyone with information about the case to contact Detective Darren Cole at 209-827-7070.
Los Banos is the second-largest city in Merced County, with a population of about 46,600 and a location roughly 26 miles southwest of the county seat of Merced along State Route 152, according to the City of Los Banos. The Edward Street shooting comes just a week after an 18-year-old Los Banos resident was arrested by Turlock police on suspicion of murder following a separate overnight fatal shooting in neighboring Stanislaus County, as Hoodline previously reported.
What Swanson Could Face Under State Law
If formally charged with murder, Swanson would face state prison sentencing under California Penal Code Section 187, which sets penalties of 15 years to life for second-degree murder and 25 years to life for first-degree murder, according to DCD Law. Prosecutors would need to establish malice aforethought under state law. Separately, Penal Code Section 12022.53 mandates a consecutive sentencing enhancement of 25 years to life for intentionally discharging a firearm during a qualifying felony that causes death, per the Chief Probation Officers of California's breakdown of the state's so-called 10-20-Life statute.
Domestic Violence Remains a Persistent Factor in State Homicides
The Edward Street case fits into a broader statewide pattern. The California Department of Justice's Crime in California 2025 report, released July 1, found that domestic violence-related incidents accounted for 14.1% of all homicides statewide even as California's overall homicide rate fell by 17.5%. A separate April 2025 analysis from the Public Policy Institute of California found that while overall domestic violence calls to law enforcement have held steady at around 18 per hour statewide, the share of domestic incidents involving weapons or aggravated violence has grown in recent years.
Local Resources for Domestic Violence Survivors
West Merced County residents affected by domestic violence can turn to the Valley Crisis Center, which operates a satellite office at 545 J Street inside the Los Banos Police Annex offering free confidential counseling, emergency shelter access, and help with restraining orders. The agency also runs a 24-hour countywide crisis hotline at 209-722-4357. The Merced County District Attorney's Office additionally operates a Victim-Witness Assistance Program that coordinates crisis intervention, legal assistance, and court advocacy for domestic violence survivors and families of homicide victims.
