Shooting at O'Reilly Auto Parts targeted employee
A suspect is in custody after shooting a 41-year-old O’Reilly Auto Parts Store employee in Merced on August 23rd. The suspect, 23-year-old James Ray Mooney of Winton, is being charged with attempted homicide.
According to witnesses, Mooney walked into the O’Reilly store located on West 16th Street and promptly fired once at the victim with a handgun, striking him. Mooney subsequently fled the scene by foot.
James Ray Mooney
After the incident, detectives were able to identify Mooney and were tipped to where he might be located. On August 28th, members of the Gang Violence Suppression Unit set up surveillance on the 1400 block of West 16th Street and were able to take him into custody without incident.
Mooney was booked at the Merced County Sheriff’s Department Correctional facility for attempted murder. Mooney had been arrested in the past and is a documented gang member. Investigators are still trying to find a motive for the shooting.
Police took Mooney into custody nearby on 16th street
In describing why Mooney was charged with attempted murder without any known motive, Lt. Tom Trindad of the Merced Police Department offered a simple explanation.
“It is safe to presume if a defendant walks into a store pulls, out a gun and shoots the victim that the defendant wanted the victim to die,” said Lt. Trindad.
Police Officers are asking anyone with any information regarding this incident to contact Detective Russell at (209) 385-4707, or the Merced Police Department Tipster Line at (209) 385-4725. The public can send information via anonymous text messages to police department by dialing “TIP411” (847411) and including the word “ComVIP” as the “keyword” in the text message.
Read More:
Merced Sun-Star: Suspect arrested in Merced auto store shooting
