Ceres Police arrested six persons Tuesday in connection with the Jan. 11 fatal shooting of a man who was driving his pickup on Whitmore Avenue in west Ceres.
Ceres Police Investigators, assisted by the Ceres SWAT team, the Central Valley Gang Impact Task Force, District Attorney investigators, the Stanislaus County Gang Unit and Modesto Police units served search warrants at a home in Ceres and three locations in Modesto.
Primitivo Guizar, 18, and Enrique Valadez, 19, both of Modesto, were arrested and charged with murder and murder with special circumstances of lying in wait.
Four persons who were arrested for being an accessory to a felony were Lucila Sanchez, 32, of Ceres, Luis Sanchez, 64, Rosa Sanchez ,54, and Heliberto Sanchez, 26, all of Modesto.
"Investigators were able to determine that this was not a random act, but that the victim was targeted," said Deputy Police Chief Mike Borges. "At this time the investigation is continuing, and at the request of the Stanislaus County District Attorney's office we are will not be releasing any further details."
Killed in the attack - which police classified as "brazen" - was 20-year-old Amadeo Avalos. He was driving eastbound on Whitmore Avenue when he was shot through the driver's side window in front of McDonald's restaurant. His red Chevy 1500 pickup 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. Avilos was dead when police arrived. Witnesses said that the gunman fled in a dark-colored vehicle.
Police said Avalos was did not appear to have affiliations with gangs and described him as a "hard working individual with no criminal background."
Ceres Police Investigators, assisted by the Ceres SWAT team, the Central Valley Gang Impact Task Force, District Attorney investigators, the Stanislaus County Gang Unit and Modesto Police units served search warrants at a home in Ceres and three locations in Modesto.
Primitivo Guizar, 18, and Enrique Valadez, 19, both of Modesto, were arrested and charged with murder and murder with special circumstances of lying in wait.
Four persons who were arrested for being an accessory to a felony were Lucila Sanchez, 32, of Ceres, Luis Sanchez, 64, Rosa Sanchez ,54, and Heliberto Sanchez, 26, all of Modesto.
"Investigators were able to determine that this was not a random act, but that the victim was targeted," said Deputy Police Chief Mike Borges. "At this time the investigation is continuing, and at the request of the Stanislaus County District Attorney's office we are will not be releasing any further details."
Killed in the attack - which police classified as "brazen" - was 20-year-old Amadeo Avalos. He was driving eastbound on Whitmore Avenue when he was shot through the driver's side window in front of McDonald's restaurant. His red Chevy 1500 pickup 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. Avilos was dead when police arrived. Witnesses said that the gunman fled in a dark-colored vehicle.
Police said Avalos was did not appear to have affiliations with gangs and described him as a "hard working individual with no criminal background."
