Manteca neighborhood still rattled after deadly shooting
Residents in the Mono Street neighborhood in Manteca say their lives have changed in the last 24 hours.
On Tuesday, neighbors remained indoors out of fear, and the street was silent. It was a completely different scene from the day before after a man was shot and killed in broad daylight right outside their homes.
The Manteca Police Department said 21-year-old Mekhi Richardson was the victim.
“I didn’t want to believe it,” said Jaylyn Fresquez, a friend of Richardson. “You never want to believe anything that happens. He was such a sweet kid; it hurt to hear it.”
The man believed to be responsible for shooting Richardson is 22-year-old Marquis L. Williams of Manteca, according to police.
“There were descriptions of the people who were standing around him at the time of the shooting,” said Ofc. Ian Osborn with the police department. “Officers located an individual who matched that description minutes after the shooting. He was detained after a lengthy investigation. It was determined that he was a suspect.”
Police say they also recovered a weapon at a home near where the shooting happened.
“There was a firearm recovered at a nearby residence believed to be the weapon used but there needs to be further testing to determine that,” Osborn said.
Neighbors told KCRA 3 they recalled hearing an argument out on the street before hearing multiple gunshots.
Police continue gathering evidence to determine why the shooting took place and the events leading up to it.
Meanwhile, neighbors, friends, and family are still processing what happened and what could have caused it.
“He did not have a bad bone in his body. He loved everybody no matter who you were, what you looked like — Mek was just that kid who was friends with everybody,” Fresquez said.
Some people expressed concern that others may potentially be involved.
“It is an ongoing investigation. There might be more involved parties, but at this time, he has been the only arrest made,” Osborn said.
Manteca police said patrol units would be monitoring the area. They also urge anyone with information or surveillance to contact their department.
On Thursday, police said a second person was arrested in connection with the deadly shooting. Troy Lewis, 21, helped in the murder by trying to hide evidence, according to the police department.
After securing a warrant, SWAT team members searched a home Lewis was believed to be staying at, police said. There, they said they found evidence linking Lewis to the murder investigation.
Lewis faces aiding and abetting charges, and was transported to the San Joaquin County Jail on a $50,000 bail.
Lewis faces aiding and abetting charges