On June 9th, 2019, at approximately 1:06p.m., Merced Police Department Officers responded to a call of shots fired in the 1400 blk of East Olive Avenue.

Witnesses saw a vehicle leaving the area with a subject shooting out of the passenger side window.

Several shell casings were found in the area of the shooting.

Officers located the vehicle and conducted a traffic enforcement stop a few blocks away from the shooting.

33-year-old Rosa Valencia was identified as the driver of the vehicle and 34-year-old Ismael Noriega was identified as the passenger in the vehicle.

Officers searched the vehicle and located a loaded Springfield Armory 45 caliber pistol under the front passenger seat.

Noriega is a convicted felon, prohibited from possessing any firearms.

Noriega was arrested and booked at the Merced County jail for negligent discharge of a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition and gang enhancements.

Noriega is a validated gang member. Valencia was arrested and booked at the Merced County Jail for negligent discharge of a firearm and driving under the influence.

Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact the Merced Police Department at (209) 385-6912 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.