MODESTO – Authorities identified a man who was killed in a Wednesday morning shooting and announced the arrest of three people connected to the homicide.
Police said 37 year old Emmanuel Gomez was following three people who were burglarizing a neighbor’s vehicle. As the three individuals fled, one of them shot a firearm at Gomez who was struck, causing him to crash his vehicle into a nearby orchard on Monticello Lane.
Detectives were able to identify and arrest 20 year old Deshawn Austin as the shooter. He was charged with homicide, using a firearm while committing a felony, and burglary. Two teens, both aged 16 were also arrested in the case on burglary charges.
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the arrest of the suspects.
Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Detective Grant at grantj@modestopd.com or Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636 where callers can remain anonymous.
Carlos Rodriguez is an Emmy Award winning photojournalist specializing in public safety and natural disasters. His passion for local news stems from a deep commitment to his community, with a selfless mission to inform the citizens of the valley. As he worked on assignment for 19 days at the devastating Camp Fire in Paradise, California, he spent most of his time helping survivors contact their loved ones to let them know they were ok. Carlos is a veteran of Univision, FOX, and Telemundo TV stations and a native of Modesto, California.
STOCKTON – Police investigated the fatal shootings of two people Saturday evening.
The first shooting happened at about 6:30pm near the area of South Aurora Street and East Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard. Stockton Police Officers responded to a report of gunfire and found a 46 year old man who had been shot. He was taken to a hospital where he died from his injuries.
The second shooting was reported at about 8:47pm on the 1700 block of West Fremont Street. Police say a 22 year old woman was shot there and taken to a hospital where she died. No suspect description was available in this case.
Detectives are investigating both incidents. Anyone with information regarding either of these shooting can contact the Stockton Police Department at (209) 937-8377 or Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600 where callers can remain anonymous.
TURLOCK – James Hooker, the man who gained national attention after it was revealed that during his time as a teacher had been in a relationship with one of his students, was arrested by police Tuesday night on charges of lewd acts with a minor.
Hooker, 54, had been under investigation by the Turlock Police Department since May 17th. The victim in this case who is now an adult, was in contact with authorities on an unrelated matter when she disclosed to police that her relationship with hooker began when she was a 15 year old middle school student. The victim told authorities that they had met on social media, and their relationship continued until she turned 18, when they were married. Turlock authorities then began their investigation.
Evidence and statements were gathered by Detective Navarro, which led to the issuing of an arrest warrant for Hooker. He was arrested Tuesday by the Ceres Police Department and booked into the Stanislaus County Jail. As of time of publication, he did not appear in jail records.
Because of the attention Hooker gained previously, including an appearance on the Dr. Phil Show, authorities believe there could be additional victims, and are asking for anyone who may have come into contact with Hooker to come forward.
“Getting James Hooker off the streets is a victory for the community and especially for potential victims who may have been at risk,” said Detective Navarro in a press release. “This is an important step, but our work is far from over. We believe there could be other victims out there, and we will continue to follow every lead to ensure justice is served.”
Hooker faces charges of lewd acts with a minor 14-15 years old and possession of material depicting sexual conduct of a person under 18.
Below is a video of an interview we shot with James Hooker during his first investigation.
MODESTO – A man broke in to the Queen Bean Coffee House overnight, causing damage to the building and stealing the register.
A heartbreaking message was posted on the business’ social media pages, reporting the incident.
“We were robbed last night! This is devastating news. They ransacked the back of house and stole our register and Clover POS system. We have called the police and will be dealing with this terrible news today. Unfortunately, we will be closed until further notice. We have no register to ring up customers and we have damages to clean up.”
“If this individual looks familiar please report him or let us know. He appears well dressed with a groomed beard and jewelry, white jacket and a beanie. We will be looking at our other cameras to find more pictures of this terrible person. Anything you could do to help is appreciated.”
New owner Sam Pierstorff recently purchased the business with his wife, much to the enthusiasm and support of the community. The patio was recently undergoing removal to make way for a new build.
Anyone with information regarding this individual is encouraged to contact the Modesto Police Department and refer to incident number MP24025995.