Ceres police investigators were investigating Monday morning's fatal shooting of a man who was driving a pickup eastbound on Whitmore Avenue directly in front of McDonald's near Morgan Road.
Police suspect that the homicide was gang related.
The victim, described as an Hispanic man in his 20s, was shot multiple times through the driver's side window west of the Morgan Road intersection as he headed eastbound. The red Chevy 1500 pickup - possibly a late 1990s or early 2000s model - continued through the intersection until his vehicle struck a chain link fence at the southeast corner of Whitmore and Morgan, narrowly missing a metal signal light pole. The man was dead when police arrived.
Sgt. Brent Smith said his officers found shell casings on Whitmore Avenue.
"It looks like they may have been waiting for him," said Smith.
Witnesses said that the gunman may have fled in a dark-colored vehicle.
"It was pretty brazen," said Ceres Police Chief Art deWerk. "It seems like most of these - if it's a gang related matter - tends to happen at night or in a secluded area but this was in a major intersection in broad daylight and I have grave concerns about what is going on."
The shooting occurred at approximately 11:08 a.m.
Police closed Whitmore and Morgan to investigate the crime scene.
Smith said officers had not identified the victim.
Several shocked customers inside McDonald's were watching the police activity through the east windows.
Police suspect that the homicide was gang related.
The victim, described as an Hispanic man in his 20s, was shot multiple times through the driver's side window west of the Morgan Road intersection as he headed eastbound. The red Chevy 1500 pickup - possibly a late 1990s or early 2000s model - continued through the intersection until his vehicle struck a chain link fence at the southeast corner of Whitmore and Morgan, narrowly missing a metal signal light pole. The man was dead when police arrived.
Sgt. Brent Smith said his officers found shell casings on Whitmore Avenue.
"It looks like they may have been waiting for him," said Smith.
Witnesses said that the gunman may have fled in a dark-colored vehicle.
"It was pretty brazen," said Ceres Police Chief Art deWerk. "It seems like most of these - if it's a gang related matter - tends to happen at night or in a secluded area but this was in a major intersection in broad daylight and I have grave concerns about what is going on."
The shooting occurred at approximately 11:08 a.m.
Police closed Whitmore and Morgan to investigate the crime scene.
Smith said officers had not identified the victim.
Several shocked customers inside McDonald's were watching the police activity through the east windows.
