Modesto Police: 14-year-old girl dead, two others injured after group opened fire on their vehicle

“On December 26th, 2020 at approximately 12:30 a.m., officers with the Modesto Police Department responded to the intersection of S. Martin Luther King Drive and Oak Street to investigate reports of a shooting.

When officers arrived, they located a crashed vehicle occupied by four individuals; three females, ages 11, 14 and 18 and a 16-year-old male. The 14-year-old female sustained life threatening injuries and died at the scene. Two of the victims were transported to area hospitals for treatment of gunshot wounds. The fourth victim was not injured.

The Modesto Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit responded and took over the investigation. The investigation revealed the victims were traveling westbound on Oak Street in their vehicle and after reaching the dead-end, turned around and began traveling eastbound on Oak Street. During that time, several males were loitering in front of a residence in the 400 block of Oak Street.

As the victims’ vehicle drove by, three of the males shot at the victims’ vehicle. The victims’ vehicle crashed at the corner of S. Martin Luther King Drive and Oak Street as they tried to flee the area. The suspects continued firing their guns and shot the victim’s vehicle several more times after it had crashed.

During a thorough investigation, detectives determined this shooting was associated with, and motivated by, gang activity involving members and associates of the Valley Boyz Crip Criminal Street Gang. As a result of this investigation, detectives arrested 21-year-old Damon “Demon” Morrison, 24-year-old Angelo Keo and a 16-year-old juvenile male, all of Modesto, on charges of murder and attempted murder.

During this investigation, several associates of the suspects were arrested for a variety of firearm related charges. Additionally, multiple persons with ties to the three suspects were arrested for attempts to hinder investigators by concealing evidence and aiding the suspects.

This homicide investigation was conducted in collaboration with members of the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office and the Modesto Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit, Street Gang Unit and the Violent Crimes Unit. This investigation netted the seizure of nine firearms, crack cocaine possessed for sales, ecstasy pills, xanax pills, high-capacity magazines, marijuana and approximately $5,000 in cash. All of the firearms were illegally possessed and some were modified to be fully-automatic.

Anyone with information regarding this homicide or associated gang activity, is encouraged to contact Detective Wilson via email at wilsond@modestopd.com or by phone at (209) 342-9130. Citizens may also contact Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636 to remain anonymous.”