Update: Teen killed in Modesto’s airport neighborhood shooting identified
Update, 4:30 p.m. Dec. 15:
The man killed in Monday night’s shooting was Lisandro Mendez, 18, the Modesto Police Department reported Tuesday afternoon.
Detectives with the department’s Violent Crimes Unit have identified a possible suspect and hope to make an arrest within the next couple of days, according to spokeswoman Sharon Bear.
Original story: A male victim died after being shot in the airport neighborhood in south Modesto on Monday night, and police believe a gunshot victim who showed up a short time later at a hospital is connected to the same incident.
About 10:20 p.m., police dispatchers got a call of a male shot at 1626 Larkin Ave. Officers found the victim inside the home there, suffering at least one gunshot wound. They immediately began lifesaving measures until medical personnel arrived to relieve them.
The victim — a news release did not say if he was an adult or a minor — was taken to a local hospital, where he died.
About 11 p.m., officers were dispatched on a call of another male who had walked into a local hospital. He, too, had a gunshot wound, which was not life-threatening. “This male appears to be connected to the initial shooting on Larkin Ave., and the connection is still being investigated at this time,” Sgt. Kalani Souza said in a news release issued Tuesday morning.
While officers were at the Larkin residence, information came in that a vehicle possibly involved in the shootings had been in a crash on Oregon Drive near Thrasher Avenue, less than a quarter mile north of the shooting scene. The vehicle was unoccupied, but officers recovered evidence indicating it was connected to the shootings.
A search of the area was conducted, which included a K-9 team and an aerial drone. “The search led officers to a residence in the 500 block of Kerr Avenue, where several people were contacted as part of the investigation,” the news release said. “The connection between these subjects and the initial shooting is still being investigated at this time.”
Detectives with the Police Department’s Violent Crime Unit assumed the investigation. Anyone with information on it is urged to call Detective Sean Martin at 209-342-6116.
Anonymous tips also may be left with Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636. Callers may be eligible for a cash reward. Tips also can be submitted via www.stancrimetips.org.
This story was originally published December 15, 2020 at 6:49 AM.
