A Ceres teenager was among the two men shot to death early Monday in what Modesto Police are investigating as a gang-related attack.
Killed in the shooting were Mark Anthony Ochoa, 19, of Ceres, and Christopher Joseph Diaz, 20, of Modesto. Both men were standing in the driveway at 2625 Maxine Drive, the address where Diaz lived.
The shooting took place at approximately midnight at Diaz's home near Coffee Road and Floyd Avenue. Officers responded quickly and about five minutes after the 911 call a Modesto patrolman spotted a pickup matching the description of the suspects' vehicle driving eastbound on Floyd Avenue near Oakdale Road. During a short chase the suspects occasionally fired rounds at the patrol car from the pickup, which was chased onto Boston Way. Three or four passengers jumped out of the pickup as the driver, Eric Arguello, drove onto Suncrest Court and parked in a driveway where he was arrested.
Police cordoned off the neighborhood and with the help of Ceres SWAT team members began a search for the suspects for seven hours. All four were apprehended after they abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
Sgt. Brian Findlen said during the search, one of the suspects broke into a home in a gated community where he was briefly.
At 4:02 a.m. Victor Zapien, 21, of Modesto, was arrested on Temescal and Cobblestone Manor. About two and half hours later a third man was arrested in the 2000 block of Temescal. A fourth suspect, David Ferrel, 30. Kelly Valle, 25, of Ceres, was arrested in the 2000 block of Hearthstone. The final arrest came at 6:43 a.m.
All four will be charged with two counts of murder, attempted murder of a police officer, and the use of a firearm to cause great bodily injury.
According to family members, Ochoa was not affiliated with gangs but could have possibly known people who were. Amanda Temores, Ochoa's girlfriend, received a final call from him at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday. He said he was headed to bed because he was to start classes at Modesto Junior College on Monday.
The shooting prompted police to lock down the northeast Modesto neighborhood. Residents were warned to stay inside their houses and keep their doors locked, a communication made by an automated phone message system. Approximately 50 law enforcement officers from Modesto, Ceres and the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department were deployed in the manhunt and a Sheriff's Aerosquadron helicopter was used overhead. Police canines were used to apprehend the suspects.
Killed in the shooting were Mark Anthony Ochoa, 19, of Ceres, and Christopher Joseph Diaz, 20, of Modesto. Both men were standing in the driveway at 2625 Maxine Drive, the address where Diaz lived.
The shooting took place at approximately midnight at Diaz's home near Coffee Road and Floyd Avenue. Officers responded quickly and about five minutes after the 911 call a Modesto patrolman spotted a pickup matching the description of the suspects' vehicle driving eastbound on Floyd Avenue near Oakdale Road. During a short chase the suspects occasionally fired rounds at the patrol car from the pickup, which was chased onto Boston Way. Three or four passengers jumped out of the pickup as the driver, Eric Arguello, drove onto Suncrest Court and parked in a driveway where he was arrested.
Police cordoned off the neighborhood and with the help of Ceres SWAT team members began a search for the suspects for seven hours. All four were apprehended after they abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
Sgt. Brian Findlen said during the search, one of the suspects broke into a home in a gated community where he was briefly.
At 4:02 a.m. Victor Zapien, 21, of Modesto, was arrested on Temescal and Cobblestone Manor. About two and half hours later a third man was arrested in the 2000 block of Temescal. A fourth suspect, David Ferrel, 30. Kelly Valle, 25, of Ceres, was arrested in the 2000 block of Hearthstone. The final arrest came at 6:43 a.m.
All four will be charged with two counts of murder, attempted murder of a police officer, and the use of a firearm to cause great bodily injury.
According to family members, Ochoa was not affiliated with gangs but could have possibly known people who were. Amanda Temores, Ochoa's girlfriend, received a final call from him at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday. He said he was headed to bed because he was to start classes at Modesto Junior College on Monday.
The shooting prompted police to lock down the northeast Modesto neighborhood. Residents were warned to stay inside their houses and keep their doors locked, a communication made by an automated phone message system. Approximately 50 law enforcement officers from Modesto, Ceres and the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department were deployed in the manhunt and a Sheriff's Aerosquadron helicopter was used overhead. Police canines were used to apprehend the suspects.
