The serenity of a cool autumn morning was disrupted on Thursday, Oct. 17 around 11:30 a.m. when shots rang out on I Street near the front of the Oakdale Market.
Oakdale police units, along with assistance from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, responded to the area and cordoned off the intersection of South Third Avenue and I Street and prevented entry into the area as officers searched yards and set up a perimeter.
Oakdale Police Chief Lester Jenkins said police received multiple calls of shots fired with subjects running from the area of the market.
While officers were taking positions in the area, a Hispanic male checked into the Oak Valley Hospital Emergency Room with two gunshot wounds that were not life threatening.
Police learned the subject was involved in the shooting and reported that he got into a verbal confrontation at the entry to the store with a group of males in their late teen to early twenties.
Chief Jenkins said words were exchanged and one of the males shouted a gang title consistent with Hispanic gangs. He declined to say what the verbiage was of the phrase.
After the shooting, the suspect, described as a white male in his late teens with very short hair wearing a red shirt and Raiders jacket, fled with three to four Hispanic males and got into a silver, mid 2000s Cadillac with a black front cover.
“We believe this was a Norte – Sureno motivated shooting,” Jenkins said. “The victim claims no gang ties, but with the gang name thrown out, we believe it was gang related.”
Three cars parked on I Street had bullet holes from the shooting. Police at the scene recovered two different calibers of shell casings.
A source close to the investigation said based on the evidence recovered, the two separate calibers of shell casings, shot trajectory, and placement of the “victim” indicated that the victim and suspect were possibly exchanging gunfire.
Oakdale High School initiated a lock down shortly after noon in response to the alert of a shooting. The lockdown was lifted when it was confirmed that the scene was secured. According to the school district, no students were involved.
Thursday’s shooting is the same location as the Nov. 11, 2012 shooting that left two people dead in front of the market. Ryan Mazzariell was later arrested by police and charged with murder.
“I think the reason it keeps happening at the market is because our worst blocks in the entire city are in the area,” said Jenkins. “Those hanging out at the market and homes in the area are people from the gang element.”
Tami Berg of Ken’s Mobile Glass next to the store said her car was one of the ones that was struck by bullets.
“I didn’t hear the shooting happen,” said Berg. “Gang stuff always seems to be around here. It happens a lot.”
Police opened up the street around 1:30 p.m. The suspect is still outstanding.
Anyone with information regarding this case should contact Detective Julio Rosa at (209) 847-2231.
