Jadira Bridget Torres Fuentes, 21, of Firebaugh, California, was killed on July 4, 2016, in a car-to-car shootout just before 4 p.m. near Highway 33 and Cypress Avenue north of Dos Palos. She was a passenger in a vehicle driven by 19-year-old Juan Antonio Gonzalez of Dos Palos when gunfire was exchanged with another car occupied by 22-year-old Enrique Najera and 19-year-old Jose Garcia Diaz Jr., both of Dos Palos.

Najera was wounded and treated at Los Banos Memorial Hospital and was then arrested. Gonzalez was also taken into custody, while police searched for Diaz, believed to be a key participant. The Merced County Sheriff’s Department described the exchange as gang-related and led the investigation into the shooting.

The community reacted to the loss and the case highlighted ongoing concerns about gang violence in the area. If anyone has information about the events of July 4, 2016, or the people involved, please come forward.