Shooting near Hanford Mall leads to 6 arrests, police say

HANFORD, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Six suspects are in custody after allegedly shooting a man near the Hanford Mall on Friday afternoon, police say.

Around 2:00 p.m., Hanford Police officers say they responded to a report of a male shot near Campus Drive and Seventh Street. The victim was transported to Visalia for treatment with non-life-threatening wounds.

While responding to the call, officers say they received a tip about several people running from a vehicle nearby. After establishing a perimeter they caught 19-year-old Mason Mercado and 23-year-old Amador Ramirez. Ramirez was recently released from prison and is currently on parole.

Officers say they were also directed by a witness to the nearby Lacey West Apartments where three others were seen running. Discarded clothing led them to four juveniles hiding in one of the apartments.

While there, officers say they found two loaded 9mm handguns including an unregistered Glock-style gun and a stolen FMK 9mm handgun. A .22 caliber Glock-style handgun rail with a barrel was also found.

After corroborating witness statements, all four juveniles were taken to Kings County Juvenile Hall where they were booked for possession of a handgun, possession of ammunition, and resisting an officer, police say. Mercado and Ramirez were booked into the Kings County Jail for attempted homicide, conspiracy to commit a crime, and aggravated child abuse.

Officers say the incident is believed to be gang-related.

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