Suspect arrested in Monday night shooting in west Modesto

A 19-year-old man was arrested Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of shooting two men in west Modesto Monday night.

The shooting occurred at Maple and South Madison streets at about 7:30 p.m., when at least one person in a stolen car opened fire at another vehicle.

At least 15 rounds riddled the victims’ car and three of them hit the two passengers. A 20-year-old man was struck once in the back and an 18-year-old was hit in the upper chest and leg, said Modesto Police Department spokeswoman Heather Graves.

The shooting originally appeared to be a rolling argument, Graves said, but upon further investigation detectives learned the victims were ambushed. They motive appears to be an ongoing dispute between the victims and the suspects. It is not believed to be gang-related.

Both victims were taken by ambulance to a Modesto hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Detectives identified Frank Avila, of Modesto, as the suspected gunman. They continue to look for the driver and other possible passengers. Graves said they are still trying to determine how many people were in the car and if anyone else fired a gun.

The stolen car was found abandoned and running a few blocks from the shooting; there were shell casings inside. The victims’ car was found parked on South Madison.

Avila was found driving in the 2700 block of Carver Road on Tuesday afternoon. Detectives pulled him over and arrested him on suspicion of attempted murder.

This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 8:05 PM with the headline "Suspect arrested in Monday night shooting in west Modesto."