Modesto police officers dispatched to multi-vehicle crash find homicide victim
Responding to 911 calls about a multi-vehicle crash off Modesto’s Sherwood Avenue on Tuesday night, police found a gunshot victim in the driver’s seat of a car.
The victim, a 22-year-old Atwater man, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased, according to a Modesto Police Department press release. His name was withheld Wednesday morning pending notification of family.
The crash at the intersection of Sherwood Avenue and West Rumble Road was reported around 8 p.m. by several callers who said there were multiple vehicles involved and possibly one subject pinned in a vehicle.
Officers found the shooting victim in a light-colored four-door sedan.
Police spokeswoman Sharon Bear said the shooting victim’s car crashed into another vehicle, injuring the driver, before hitting two parked vehicles and coming to rest.
Bear said the driver who was injured in the initial crash was taken by ambulance to a hospital but she did not have information about the extent of the person’s injuries.
Detectives with the department’s Violent Crimes Unit are investigating. They believe the victim was shot somewhere in the area, prior to the collisions, Bear said.
She said they believe this is an isolated incident and are working to identify a suspect.
On Wednesday morning, remnants of a crash, including oil and fluid absorbent, were in the roadway across from Woodrow Park, north of Rumble. On the east side of Sherwood are the Stonybrook Apartments.
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash, or who may have information regarding this investigation, is urged to contact Detective Booza at boozag@modestopd.com.
Tips also can be left with Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Tips also can be submitted via www.stancrimetips.org.
This story was originally published April 12, 2023 at 8:52 AM.
