The suspect in a Merced murder was captured without incident
Wednesday night at a Morgan Hill apartment complex. Armando Chacon
Lopez, an alleged member of Merced
’s Dead End Locs street gang, surrendered peacefully at
approximately 9pm after a team of officers surrounded the apartment
at 80 Ciolino Ave.
The suspect in a Merced murder was captured without incident Wednesday night at a Morgan Hill apartment complex.
Armando Chacon Lopez, an alleged member of Merced’s Dead End Locs street gang, surrendered peacefully at approximately 9pm after a team of officers surrounded the apartment at 80 Ciolino Ave.
Lopez, 21, was taken to Merced for questioning in the killing in broad daylight Nov. 5 of Ventura Martinez, 24, of Merced.
According to the Merced Sun Star newspaper, police there are investigating possible links to street gang violence.
Merced Police had received a tip from state parole agents and family members of the victim that Lopez was traveling with Tereso Hernandez, 46, of Morgan Hill, and that they might be staying with friends or family in unit 101-B at the complex located west of Monterey Road and south of Dunne Avenue.
Lopez is on parole after a conviction on a violent assault charge from the California Youth Authority. Hernandez was taken to Santa Clara County Jail for three no-bail warrants.
The Morgan Hill apartment had links to Lopez’s gang, but police did not find any weapon or other significant evidence when they searched the residence.
Other people in the home were questioned but were not arrested.
Three Morgan Hill officers, five officers from Merced’s special operations unit and five Merced County deputies from Sheriff’s Tactical and Reconnaissance team were on hand when the arrest took place.
On Nov. 5 at about 2:15pm in Merced, Lopez was with a woman who had gone to pick up her children at a home in the 100 block of San Clemente Street. The children had been visiting relatives.
Martinez, the woman’s brother-in-law, came out of the house and confronted Lopez. The two argued at the car door, police said.
Lopez then shot him with a handgun.
Martinez attempted to roll away, but Lopez jumped on the hood of the car and fired several more times, killing Martinez. Lopez fled the scene on foot.
