Two charged in weekend shooting that left 1 dead, 3 injured
Two men have been arrested in connection with a gang-related drive-by shooting over the weekend near Ceres that left a man dead and three others injured.
Suspect Sergio Zuniga, 24, turned himself in earlier this week after multiple search warrants were served in connection with the shooting that occurred Sunday evening in the 3600 block of Spruce Avenue, an unincorporated pocket in Ceres.
The other suspect, 25-year-old Michael Anthony Valdepena Jr., was arrested Thursday morning. The Sheriff’s Department did not release details about his arrest.
Sgt. Josh Clayton said there are “no more known suspects at this time.”
The men were charged Thursday with murder for the death of 28-year-old Luis Soto, of Ceres, and the attempted murder of two others, according to a criminal complaint.
Officials at the time of the shooting said three people were found shot at the scene, one fatally, and a fourth showed up at the hospital later.
The sheriff’s department will not say if the person who showed up at the hospital later is one of the suspects or if there was an exchange in gun fire.
For each of the murder and attempted murder charges, Zuniga and Valdepena also face enhancements for premeditation, for using a firearm and for committing the crimes for the benefit of the Norteño Street gang.
The murder charge also includes special circumstances for allegedly discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle.
Zuniga and Valdepena are also charged with shooting at an occupied building, participating in a criminal street gang and aggravated mayhem against one of the injured victims.
Clayton would not say what the mayhem charge stems from but, according to the complaint, their actions deprived the victim “of the use of a limb, organ, or member of his body.”
Zuniga and Valdepena were arraigned Thursday and are scheduled to return to court March 20.
Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to call Detective Cory Brown at 209-567-4485.
Tips also may be made to Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636 or www.stancrimetips.org. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 4:54 PM.
