December 17, 2025 – Merced County Sheriff’s Office officials report that they have made an arrest in connection with a 2022 double homicide. The homicide took place on Franklin Road and Santa Fe Drive in July of 2022. Shortly after 11:00 p.m., Deputies responded to several calls regarding a shooting on Santa Fe Drive near Franklin Road, just outside the Atwater, California, city limits.

Callers reported that multiple shots had been fired by suspects in one vehicle, toward four occupants in another vehicle. The shooting tragically resulted in the deaths of 23-year-old Ruben Coronado and 24-year-old Eli Correa. An adult female was also critically injured.

Related: Merced County Sheriff Seeks Public's Help with Information in July 2022 Homicide of Two Men Near Atwater

Merced County Sheriff ID's Car Connected to July 2022 Homicides Near Atwater, Seeks Public’s Help IDing Suspects

Merced County Sheriff Seeks Public’s Help IDing Two Persons of Interest in July 2022 Homicides Near Atwater

On Monday, December 15, 2025, detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Investigations Bureau, with assistance from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, arrested Justin Vanrassan, 30, of Las Vegas, on homicide-related charges. This arrest marks the culmination of a three-year investigation and brings long-awaited progress and closure to the victim’s family.

Pictured: Ruben Coronado (23) of Lathrop and Eli Correa (24) of Modesto

Source: Merced County Sheriff’s Office