Chaz Bettencourt, 21, Riverbank, rode to the mini-mart in his friend's car and they went inside to make their purchases. As they came out of the store, they were confronted by three men. The assailants demanded the friend's car and an altercation ensued. The friend ran back into the store to tell the clerk to call 911, when one or more shots were fired in the parking lot. Bettencourt was hit multiple times, and later died at a Modesto hospital.
Roberto Sanchez, 24, Modesto, was found shot to death on July 22, at 8:50 p.m. on several volleyball courts at an apartment complex in in the 300 block of Olivero Road, just east of Crows Landing Road and a few blocks west of Highway 99. Witnesses told Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department deputies that vehicles left the area after the shots were heard, but could not give any descriptions.
Michael Chandler, 56, Ceres, was shot in the head after he became involved in an argument with two teenager brothers. He had been sleeping on a couch and complained about how much noise the brothers were making when they came home, according to police. So, police said, one of the brothers shot him. Chandler walked and ran to the police station, about a quarter-mile away, after he was shot above his right eye. Because of his gunshot wound, he could not speak clearly.
