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Monday, Aug. 31, 2009

Modesto double homicide: Four suspects in custody

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MODESTO -- 2:47 P.M. UPDATE: One of the victims in Monday’s double homicide was a 19-year-old due to start classes at Modesto Junior College today.

Mark Anthony Ochoa was one of two men shot to death early Monday near Coffee Road and Floyd Avenue, his mother, Veronica Meraz, said.

Meraz said she didn’t know what led to the shooting.

Click here for the story.

The other shooting victim was identified by Modesto police as a 20-year-old from Modesto.

Police say they believe the shooting was gang-related.

Police arrested four men: Modesto resident Eric Arguello, 18; Modesto resident Victor Zapien, 21; Ceres resident Kelly Valle, 25; and Ceres resident David Ferrel, 30.

They were charged with two counts of murder, attempted murder of a police officer, and use of a firearm causing great bodily injury.

Zapien also had outstanding warrants for his arrest for assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder.

Additionally, Ferrel had a felony warrant for probation violation.

All were arrested hiding in the back yard of area homes.

Additional charges are possible as the investigation progresses.

Check back at Modbee.com later in the day as more information becomes available.

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11 A.M. UPDATE: Four suspects believed to be involved in a double-homicide in east Modesto early this morning have been taken into custody, according to the Modesto Police Department.

A police perimeter surrounding the area from Floyd Avenue and Roselle Avenue to Lincoln Oak Drive to Merle Avenue and back to Roselle, which had been set in the early morning hours, has been dismantled.

Sgt. Brian Findlen said earlier this morning there was a possibility of a fifth suspect. There were conflicting reports of either four or five suspects minutes after the shooting.

However, at 10:30 a.m., he said there was an extensive search of areas where they believe the suspects had run to, and “we did not find evidence of a fifth suspect. We believe we got the main players in the incident."

“At this point, people can go back to their normal routines in the affected neighborhoods.”

The homicides occurred around midnight in a house on Maxine Drive just west of Coffee and Floyd avenues, and a pickup truck containing suspects was abandoned dumped off near Floyd and Roselle.

A massive manhunt by police involving numerous agencies and a helicopter in the Village I area took several hours during the middle of the night.

After sunrise, neighbors gathered at the north and south ends of Maxine to watch as investigators combed the area for evidence. Ribbons of yellow and red police tape blocked access to the center of the block where the shooting occurred.

Residents said they believed both men were shot in a home on the west side of the street. They said one man evidently died there and the other managed to cross the street to another house. Witnesses said they saw officials remove bodies from each home.

Scroll down to see a Central Valley Report video

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5:59 A.M. UPDATE: Modesto police are searching in Village I for several suspects believed to be connected to a double homicide.

Sgt. Brian Findlen advised residents in the east Modesto neighbornhood to stay indoors. “Unless otherwise instructed by a police officer, we are asking people to stay in their homes with the doors and windows locked. And if they see or hear anything suspicious, they should immediately call 911.”

The Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services left recorded phone messages to residents in the area at 5:15 a.m. advising the same thing.