Authorities seek clues in Lathrop shooting

LATHROP -- An 18-year-old man was in critical condition early Saturday after being shot multiple times near the Two Guys Food and Fuel Store, authorities said.

Lathrop Police Services deputies were called to the area of East Harlan and Lathrop roads at 1:25 a.m. Saturday on a report of shots fired, according to a San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office news release.

When they arrived, they found the man with gunshot wounds sitting in a vehicle parked on the south side of the business, just east of Interstate 5. He was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Sheriff's investigators have taken over the investigation.

Witnesses describe the shooter as a Latino or black male, 5 feet 9 inches tall and with a thin build. They say he was wearing a black hooded sweat shirt and was seen running from the car after the shots were fired. He ran southeast behind the business onto Harlan Road, witnesses said.

The motive for the shooting is under investigation; no arrests have been made and the shooting possibly is gang-related, the release stated.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office at (209) 468-4400.