Police search for two shooting suspects who leave man injured in Ceres

Police officers searched for suspects Tuesday morning after a man was shot at a housing complex near Sinclear Elementary School.

The man suffered a gunshot wound to his right leg and lost a significant amount of blood, said Ceres police Lt. James Yandell. The first officers to arrive at the scene found the injured man and applied a tourniquet to help stop the bleeding.

The man was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment. There was no further information available Tuesday afternoon about the extent of his injuries.

Police first learned of the shooting at 9:19 a.m., when 911 callers reported shots were fired at the complex in the 3800 block of Lexar Drive, just west of the Tranquil Lane and Morgan Road intersection in Ceres.

Yandell said investigators believe the shooting occurred in the complex's parking lot. Investigators found the injured man near the front door of one of the homes.

Police had not released a definitive description of two suspects they believe were involved in the shooting. Investigators were still canvassing the neighborhood and questioning witnesses.

Officers, including one police canine, searched the surrounding neighborhood, but did not find any suspects. Patrol vehicles could be seen driving throughout the neighborhood and the nearby Quik Stop gas station on Morgan and Service roads.

As a precaution, Sinclear Elementary School, a few blocks north of the shooting scene, was placed on lockdown until police could ensure the suspects were no longer in the area. Yandell said a Ceres police school resource officer went to the school immediately after the shooting to ensure the students and staff were safe.

Police ask anyone with information about this shooting to call Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636. Tipsters can email through the Crime Stoppers website, www.stancrimetips.org. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward.

This story was originally published January 23, 2018 at 9:36 AM with the headline "Police search for two shooting suspects who leave man injured in Ceres."