Dos Palos teen, 17, turns himself in after shooting that wounded a man

A 17-year-old from Dos Palos turned himself in a day after a shooting that left a 32-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies were sent to the 40000 block of Valeria Avenue in Dos Palos at about 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, for a report of a shooting. They found the man wounded, and he was flown to a nearby hospital, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators identified the teenager as a suspect and served several search warrants. The Sheriff’s Office SWAT team served one of them in the 1500 block of Devonwood Drive in Merced. Investigators recovered two guns from the searches.

On Sunday, Nov. 1, detectives persuaded the teenager to turn himself in peacefully, and he was booked into juvenile hall on suspicion of attempted murder, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Merced Neighbors isn’t naming him because he is a minor. An arrest doesn’t mean a person committed a crime, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

What’s still unknown

The Sheriff’s Office post gives only the deputies’ account. It doesn’t say:

• How the man is doing now, or his name
• What led to the shooting, or whether the two knew each other
• What kind of guns were recovered, or where the other warrants were served
• Whether prosecutors will file charges in juvenile court or ask to move the case to adult court

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can call the Sheriff’s Office tip line at 209-385-7547 or email SheriffTips@countyofmerced.com.

Sources: Merced County Sheriff’s Office post, Nov. 2, 2026.