On January 1st, 2019 at approximately 12:03am hours, Merced Police Officer Nate McKinnon was driving by the area of 11th and O Streets in the city of Merced when he heard automatic gunfire coming from very close by.

Officer McKinnon got out of his patrol vehicle in the 700 block alley of West 11th Street to locate where the gun fire was coming from. Moments later he heard the rapid succession of gunfire again coming from the back yard of 746 West 11th Street.

Through a chain link fence, Officer McKinnon observed several individuals firing guns in the backyard. One of the firearms observed was an AK47 style assault rifle.

Officer McKinnon ordered the subjects to drop the firearms and show their hands. Two of the individuals complied but a third, ran into the residence at 746 West 11th Street, Other officers arrived on scene to assist and the location was secured and subjects detained.

The homeowner was contacted and was uncooperative with the investigation, a search warrant was authored to arrest the subject who had run inside the house and to secure the weapon used.

Once the warrant was obtained, officers searched the residence and seized 21 firearms including an AR15 assault rifle, an AK47 assault rifle and a Tec-9 machine type pistol. Several handguns were also seized one of which was reported stolen. Also located were 4 high capacity magazines including a 100 round drum style magazine for the AK47.

Over 450 rounds of ammunition were also located and seized. Ultimately, 29-year-old Juan Carlos Fernandez was arrested for firing a gun in the city limits and released on citation.

31-year-old Ramiro Fernandez Jr. was arrested for 32625(a) PC Possession of a machine gun and 32310 PC Possession of high capacity magazines and booked into Merced County jail.

Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Sergeant Pintabona at (209) 388-7761. 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.