Los Banos Police officers arrested Joseph Parraz, age 24 of Los Banos Saturday Feb. 10, at a residence in the 1800 block of Lane Court in connection with a shooting incident.
Detectives and members of the Gang Unit identified Parraz as the suspect who was in a verbal argument with a 28-year-old man on Feb. 7 in the alleyway behind Sherwin-Williams Paint Store located in the 2200 block of East Pacheco Blvd, according to Los Banos Police Commander Justin Melden.
Following the shooting, the victim ran to the nearby Chevron gas station for help and collapsed in the front entrance.
The victim suffered at least two gunshot wounds; one to the upper body and one to his torso.
“We believe the victim and suspect were involved in a verbal altercation that led to the shooting,” Melden said.
The victim was transported by air ambulance to a Modesto hospital and is in stable condition.
The suspect fled on foot northbound on Ward Road. A witness reported seeing the suspect run into a nearby home on Canal Farm Lane.
The Merced County SWAT team was called in and searched the home. The suspect was not at that house.
During the course of the investigation, officers were able to track Parraz to a residence in the 1800 block of Lane Court where a surveillance operation confirmed Parraz was inside of the residence.
On Saturday, officers stopped Parraz as he left the residence in a vehicle and took him into custody without incident.
After taking Parraz into custody, detectives and gang officers served two residential search warrants related to the investigation.
The first was in the 1800 block of Lane Court, and the second was in the 2300 block of N. Rockcreek Drive.
Detectives found evidence tying Parraz to the shooting. At the North Rockcreek Drive home, detectives found drugs for sale and multiple firearms, including an assault weapon. The resident, 31-year-old Christopher Torres, was arrested for felony drug and weapon violations.
Parraz is currently in custody on attempted murder charges. Bail has been set at $250,000.00.
The Los Banos Police Department is asking for anyone with information pertaining to this incident to call Det. O’Day at (209) 827-2554 or Det. Neal at (209) 827-2520.
