Modesto police arrest teen in drive-by shooting near Elliot Alternative Education Center
Modesto police reported Monday that officers took a 17-year-old Merced boy into custody in connection with a drive-by shooting involving an Elliott Alternative Education Center student.
No one was injured in the shooting, according to a Police Department Facebook post. It took place Thursday at about 1:45 p.m. at the northeast corner of Sunrise and Orangeburg avenues, near the school.
Department spokeswoman Sharon Bear said school was letting out for the day when the incident took place. She said the intended victim is a teenage boy.
The Facebook post states the department’s street gang unit, along with detectives from investigative services, took over the case and identified the Merced boy as the shooter.
Street gang detectives arrested the boy Saturday afternoon after finding him in Turlock. He was booked at the Stanislaus County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of assault with a firearm and other weapons charges related to being a juvenile and near a school.
Modesto City Schools spokeswoman Sharokina Shams said Elliott staff immediately called 911 when the gunfire was heard. She said police put Elliott and nearby Downey High and John Muir Elementary schools on lockdown.
She said the longest lockdown was at Elliott and lasted 25 minutes. Shams said the school district is grateful to the police for its quick work in making an arrest.
This story was originally published October 23, 2023 at 5:44 PM.
