Police arrest third suspect in connection with Labor Day shooting in Turlock
Turlock police arrested a third suspect on Thursday in connection with a gang-related shootout that left a 26-year-old Modesto man dead at the Days Inn motel near Highway 99 and Main Street on Sept. 7.
Patterson resident Eric Rodriguez was arrested in connection with the shooting that resulted in the death of Mario Meza-Nolazco, according to the Turlock Police Department.
Detectives located Rodriguez at a hotel in the 27000 block of California Highway 33 in Newman around 10 a.m. and after contacting him, Rodriguez fled and led officers on a brief pursuit, police said, driving into a nearby orchard where he left his vehicle and fled on foot.
He was apprehended in the 100 block of East Fifth Street in Crows Landing and was booked at the Stanislaus County jail for homicide, attempted homicide, shooting at an occupied vehicle, evading a peace officer, felon in possession of a firearm, and participating in a criminal street gang.
Miguel Saldate, 19, of Ceres, and Juan Jose Cruz Jr., 19, of Modesto, were previously arrested for involvement in the shooting.
On Labor Day, officers responded to a call of aggravated assault at 4:15 a.m. and found evidence of shots being fired between a group of at least six people associated with Room 220 and at least four people associated with room 218, police said.
This case remains an on-going investigation and detectives are working to identify all of the remaining parties involved in this incident.
This story was originally published September 19, 2020 at 5:14 AM.
