Two critical after argument in vehicles escalates into gunfire

A shooting Thursday night after an argument between people in two cars in Ceres left two people in critical condition.

The shootout began at 8:03 p.m. at Caswell Avenue and Fifth Street and continued down Central Avenue with shots fired from at least one vehicle, according to Sgt. Jose Berber of the Ceres Police Department.

Both shooting victims – a female adult passenger shot in the head and a male adult driver shot in the back – were in a 2005 silver Dodge Durango that was riddled with bullet holes, Berber said. The occupants in the other vehicle, which police could describe only as “dark-colored,” drove away.

The sport utility vehicle, which had a flat tire, came to a stop in the 900 block of North Central Avenue about 1 1/2 miles from where witnesses said the argument first began. Both victims were pulled from the vehicle and taken to a nearby hospital.

A witness saw the Durango being chased by a dark vehicle westbound on Caswell, where the first volley of gunfire was heard. The Durango turned north on Central, and a second volley of gunfire was heard, Berber said. Investigators found spent shells at both locations.

It’s not known from which vehicle those shots were fired, Berber said. It was not known if any gunfire came from the SUV.

Berber said he did not have the ages of the victims, and the motive for the shooting was not clear.

No further information on the victims’ condition was available Friday morning.

Police cordoned off two sections of Central Avenue – one south of Hatch Road where markers could be seen down the street and another north of Hatch where the SUV came to a stop.

He said anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636. Tipsters can email tips at www.stancrimetips.org or text them to 274637 by typing “tip 704” with the message. Tipsters can remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward.

This story was originally published August 11, 2016 at 10:26 PM with the headline "Two critical after argument in vehicles escalates into gunfire."