Friday, Dec. 16, 2011

Gunman sought in Los Banos' 19th shooting

Victim is stable; police seeking leads

A gang-related shooting in Los Banos last week sent one man to the hospital, police said.

Officers responded to the 400 block of Mercey Springs Road about 10:26 p.m. Nov. 9 to find a 22-year-old man with gunshot wounds to his upper torso.

Police said an approximately 5-foot-7-inch, 175-pound Hispanic man approached the victim and asked his gang affiliation. The victim said he was not a gang member and started to walk away, police said, when the shooter drew and fired.

The shooter left the scene headed north in a Honda Acura or other import-style car.

The victim was airlifted to a Modesto-area hospital for his injuries and is in stable condition, police said.

There have been 19 shootings in Los Banos this year.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Zina Holden at (209) 827-7070, ext. 147, or by leaving an anonymous tip on the city website at www.losbanos.org.

Enterprise reporter Thaddeus Miller can be reached at (209) 388-6562 or by email at tmiller@losbanos

enterprise.com.