Girl who died in MLK Drive shooting was 14-year-old Modesto High freshman, police say
The victim in a deadly shooting early Saturday in west Modesto was a 14-year-old girl, according to the Modesto Police Department.
Because they’re minors, detectives are withholding her name and the name of a 16-year-old boy who survived. The third person shot was an 18-year-old woman whose name had not yet been released Monday morning but will be, MPD spokeswoman Sharon Bear said.
One of the survivors had been released from the hospital by late Saturday morning, police reported at the crime scene.
Early Saturday morning just after midnight, a car carrying the three teens and an 11-year-old girl was fired upon at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Oak Street. The youngest child was unhurt.
On social media, family members and friends have identified the girl killed. According to Modesto City Schools, she was a freshman at Modesto High School.
“We are engaging with the principal and school leadership to offer counseling and emotional support for her family, friends, fellow students and the teachers and staff,” district spokeswoman Krista Noonan said by text Monday morning. Modesto City Schools students are on winter break through Jan. 10.
Police have not released any information on the relationship among the three shooting victims.
According to residents near the shooting scene who spoke with The Bee, the car crashed into and knocked over a streetlight pole at the northeast corner of South Martin Luther King Drive and Oak Street. Police have not said whether the driver was among those shot.
Little about the circumstances of the shooting has been released, including whether the shots were fired from another vehicle, what preceded the shooting, if a motive is known or suspected, and whether there are any suspect or vehicle descriptions.
Saturday’s was the third homicide in Stanislaus County in a seven-day period and the sixth this month. Five of December’s homicides are being investigated by Modesto police.
It was the 39th reported homicide in the county this year, including two officer-involved shootings. There were 32 homicides last year in the county and 44 in 2018.
Detective Darien Wilson with the Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit asks that anyone who witnessed the shooting or has information on it contact him at WilsonD@modestopd.com or 209-342-9130. Anonymous tips also may be left by calling Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636.
This story was originally published December 28, 2020 at 10:37 AM.
