Modesto shooting began as argument between cars’ occupants

Two men were sent to a Modesto hospital with non-life-threatening wounds after a verbal argument conducted from two moving vehicles escalated to gunfire Monday night.

A 20-year-old man was struck once in the back and an 18-year-old was hit once each in the upper chest and a leg, said Modesto Police Department spokeswoman Heather Graves. A 21-year-old man also in the vehicle was uninjured.

The vehicle – a 1995 Ford, model unknown – was hit approximately 15 times, Graves said. There is no evidence to suggest any returned gunfire or weapons in the victims’ vehicle.

Police were called to the scene near Maple and South Madison streets around 7:30 p.m. after a report that at least one person had been shot.

Officers arrived to find the victims’ vehicle empty and the men nearby, Sgt. Felix Roman said at the scene.

Witnesses reported seeing two men in dark clothing leaving the suspects’ vehicle, a Toyota that was found not far from the shooting scene, engine still running, Graves said. Police contacted the registered owner, who said he didn’t know the vehicle had been stolen.

No weapons were found in the vehicle, Graves said.

Seconds after the victims were struck, their vehicle, traveling at low speed, hit a car parked on South Madison. It appeared the parked car was occupied and that one person from that car was taken by ambulance to a hospital, although that could not be immediately confirmed.

The victims were uncooperative with police at the scene, Graves said, adding that it’s too early in the investigation to know if the shooting was gang-related.

This story was originally published March 8, 2016 at 10:07 AM with the headline "Modesto shooting began as argument between cars’ occupants."