OAKDALE -- The day after two people, including a 15-year-old, were killed, police are staying mum on what motivated the shooting that put a man with military training behind bars.
An Oakdale police officer was in the area near Oakdale Market at 311 E. I St. at 9:05 p.m. Sunday when the officer heard gunfire, said Sgt. Anthony Bejaran of the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department.
The officer found numerous people in the parking lot, including the two victims on the ground.
Emergency crews took Abel Calderon, 20, of Oakdale to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Ruben Mora Jr., 15, was pronounced dead at the scene, Bejaran said.
After talking to witnesses, officers said they determined that Ryan Neil Mazzariello, 25, of Oakdale was a suspect and went to a home they were told he fled to after the shooting. Bejaran would not say whose home he went to or where it was.
Mazzariello’s car was left at the crime scene. The weapon used in the killings was recovered at the scene, police said.
Taken into custody
After a brief discussion with officers, Mazzariello surrendered without incident and was taken into custody. He is being held in the Stanislaus County Jail. No bail has been set.
Bejaran said Mazzariello has military experience but would not say for which branch he serves and didn’t know if he is on active duty. A Bee reporter went to his family’s home Monday, but no one answered the door.
Ruben Mora’s sister, Melissa Mora, said she doesn’t know who Mazzariello is or why anyone would want to hurt her brother.
“He kept to himself ... I never met anyone who said anything bad about him,” she said. “He was always smiling and happy.”
She and her aunt, Marce Mora, were at the scene of the shooting Monday afternoon, along with dozens of other people.
It was unclear Monday whether Mora and Calderon were acquainted. Makeshift memorials had been erected for both victims in the market’s parking lot, where flowers and candles sat below pictures of them on poster board so people could write condolences.
A car in the parking lot blasted mariachi music as members of the crowd became angry at being videotaped and yelled profanities at reporters and camera crews. People drank alcohol wrapped in paper bags or in plain view.
Without warning, a fist fight broke out among several members of the group. Oakdale police arrived, and the music stopped as several people scattered. Officers spoke to some of the people involved in the fight but arrested no one.
“I think it is ridiculous,” Melissa Mora said shortly after the altercation, “I mean I just lost my brother, and these people have to act like idiots. They have no respect.” She said she didn’t know any of the people who had congregated in the parking lot Monday.
Music turned up again
After officers left, the music was turned back on, it seemed even more people were there than before, and one man said, “Let’s get back to partying.”
The Sheriff’s Department is assisting Oakdale police with the investigation and handling media inquiries about the shooting. Oakdale police as of late Monday afternoon had not asked for help patrolling the crime scene, where some neighbors believe retaliation is imminent.
Bejaran would not comment about whether the shooting was tied to any gang activity in the area, as a number of people at the scene speculated Monday afternoon.
The double homicide was the first in Oakdale since November 2008, when Charles Massey, 66, allegedly shot his 37-year-old son and his wife before turning the gun on himself. Massey and his son died from their wounds. A typed note next to his body outlined concerns about his finances and losses in the stock market.
More than two years before that, Joey Ross was stabbed to death as he walked home from the sports bar he owned. No one has been arrested in connection with his death.
Anyone with information about Sunday's double homicide is asked to call Detective Frank Soria at (209) 525-7080. You can also leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636. Tipsters can also e-mail tips at www.modestopolice.com/ CrimeStoppers, or text them to CRIMES (274637) by typing "Tip704" plus the message and be eligible for a cash reward.
Bee staff writer Erin Tracy can be reached at etracy@modbee.com or (209) 578-2366. Follow her on Twitter, @ModestoBeeCrime.
Video of interview with victim's sister
Video of confrontation
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