An 18-year-old man and a 21-year-old man were shot at a party near Delhi in Merced County Saturday night, leaving one of them in critical condition and the other stable as detectives continue searching for answers. Deputies rushed to a house near Oak Street and Hinton Avenue, just south of Delhi, shortly before 10:30 p.m. after reports of gunfire, and both victims were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
According to ABC30 Fresno, the Merced County Sheriff's Office confirmed that two people were injured in the shooting, identifying the victims only as an 18-year-old man and a 21-year-old man who suffered gunshot wounds. Authorities have not clarified which of the two victims is the one in critical condition, leaving that detail unresolved even as the investigation moves forward.
Conflicting Details on Victims' Conditions
Reports on the extent of the victims' injuries have varied slightly depending on the source. ABC30 Fresno reported that one victim was in critical condition without specifying the other's status, while the Los Banos Enterprise reported that one victim was in stable condition while the other remained in critical condition, according to the Los Banos Enterprise. Neither outlet has identified whether the 18-year-old or the 21-year-old is the one fighting for his life.
The shooting remains under active investigation, with detectives continuing to gather information about the circumstances that led to the gunfire, per the same ABC30 account. So far, authorities have provided no additional information about a suspect or a possible motive behind the shooting.
No Arrests Announced, Tip Line Open
As of the most recent update, the Sheriff's Office has not publicly announced an arrest or released information identifying a suspect, the Los Banos Enterprise report notes. The case appears to still be in its early stages, with investigators relying on witnesses and possible video footage from the scene to piece together what happened at the party.
Investigators are asking anyone with information or footage related to the shooting to call or text the Merced County Sheriff's Office Detective Bureau tip line at 209-500-3677. With no suspect named and the condition of both victims still not fully clarified to the public, the case remains open as detectives work to determine exactly what unfolded at the Oak Street address that night.
