Dozens arrested after investigation into gang-related homicide in Merced County

Officials accidental much arrests could beryllium connected the mode arsenic the probe continues

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Gathered successful a ample league country down tables holding a assortment of guns and ample bags of drugs instrumentality enforcement agencies announced the results of an 18 period investigation.

"No fentanyl successful our town, nary pack unit connected our streets. No murderers are going to get distant with what they thought they were going to get distant with," said Merced County District Attorney Nicole Silveira.

Operation Red Rooster began with a gang-related homicide and attempted homicide successful Livingston successful 2022.

Police arrested 1 suspected shooter, but different remained free.

During that time, the Merced Area Gang and Narcotic Enforcement Team, section metropolis and region instrumentality enforcement agencies, the FBI, and California Department of Justice worked successful collaboration to analyse the liable pack and their enactment successful Merced County.

On Thursday morning, those instrumentality enforcement partners descended connected dozens of locations crossed the region seizing much than 60 pounds of amerciable drugs and astir 30 guns

They besides arrested 41 people, including Freddy Hernandez, who authorities said is liable for the 2022 homicide successful Livingston.

"It's precise good, fulfilling to cognize that determination are different agencies you tin scope retired to erstwhile you don't person the resources," said John Ramirez, Livingston Police Interim Chief. "Even an cognition of this magnitude, adjacent our section agencies successful Merced County didn't person the resources."

No 1 was injured during the sweep, but Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke says it took unit successful immoderate cases.

"We meant business," said Wernke. "We had 1 idiosyncratic successful a section metropolis successful Merced County that barricaded himself and an adjoining agency's SWAT squad went successful and they had to usage important magnitude of unit to get him out."

Action News was told officers and agents are inactive investigating and collecting much grounds Thursday evening and that we tin expect much arrests and developments arsenic this probe continues.

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