Soledad Orozco, 19, was found dead from a gunshot wound on September 3, 2023, at a residence on Lingard Road in Merced County, California. Deputies located multiple firearms at the scene, including at least one ghost gun, a firearm without a serial number.

The Merced County Sheriff’s Office identified 18-year-old Gerardo Jimenez Beltran as the primary suspect. Beltran, who was on probation and prohibited from possessing firearms, was reportedly in a romantic relationship with Orozco and she lived part-time at his residence. Authorities arrested Beltran and booked him into the Merced County Jail on charges that include felony voluntary manslaughter and possession of an undetectable firearm.

Friends and family remember Orozco as joyful and always smiling; her death has left loved ones, especially her father, in deep mourning. The investigation into the circumstances and motive remains ongoing. If anyone knew Soledad, her routines, or has information about what happened on Lingard Road, please share what is known.