Turlock man arrested in Empire shooting of two

A Turlock man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the shooting of two people in Empire on Tuesday morning.

Kevin Barnes, 20, was booked into the Stanislaus County jail on Wednesday, facing charges of attempted murder, possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony and committing a felony while out on bail, according to Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Anthony Bejaran.

At 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, deputies responded to a call of a person shot at Yosemite Boulevard and Leek Road in Empire. Two men, ages 21 and 32, were found with gunshot wounds. They were transported to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, said Bejaran, who added that the victims’ identities are not being released.

The victims are believed to have been driving on Yosemite when they were shot. Talk on the police scanner that morning indicates they fled on Leek Road to escape the gunman or gunmen.

Reports at the time also indicated there was a passenger in the suspect vehicle. “Deputies are still doing follow-up investigation to determine if there is a second suspect,” Bejaran said Wednesday.

Deputies from the Special Team Investigating Narcotics and Gangs responded to the crime scene, Bejaran said. Their investigation identified Barnes as a suspect.

Court Services deputies arrested Barnes about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Stanislaus County Courthouse.

This story was originally published June 8, 2016 at 10:11 AM with the headline "Turlock man arrested in Empire shooting of two."