MERCED — Local police arrested two active Norteno gang members after responding to a report of a fight in progress last week.
Officers arrived on the 2800 block of 8th Avenue on Tuesday, November 5, where two confidential victims informed them that the incident in question had started as a family dispute.
One of the suspects, later identified as 33-year-old Daniel Zavala, pulled a gun on one of the victims, who grabbed Zavala and began fighting him for control of the gun. A second suspect, 19-year-old Jacob Guzman, also began hitting and kicking the victim.
At one point during the scuffle, the gun went off, though fortunately no one was injured. At that point Zavala and Guzman, as well as 36-year-old Leah Zavala, fled the scene.
Daniel and Leah Zavala later returned, however, and were questioned and detained. A firearm was also found in their vehicle.
Officers soon also found Guzman in the area of Bear Creek Drive and G Street with two guns in his backpack.
Daniel Zavala and Guzman are reportedly both active Norteno gang members, in addition to Zavala being on parole, and were taken into custody on multiple gang- and gun-related charges.
Leah Zavala was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, conspiracy to commit a crime, accessory to a crime, carrying a loaded firearm to commit a felony, and assault with a deadly weapon likely to produce great bodily injury.
All were booked at the Merced County Jail.
