February 28, 2026 – Merced County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on February 26, 2026, at 7:26 p.m., Deputies responded to the Kwik Serv Gas Station located at 8480 Lander Avenue in Hilmar regarding a shooting. Deputies learned the incident stemmed from an argument among several people.

The victim was sitting in his vehicle when the suspect, later identified as Cesar Reynoso Deluna, 21, from Hilmar, shot at him before fleeing the scene. The victim self-transported to a local area hospital for a non-life-threatening injury to his forehead. Deluna was later located at a residence in Hilmar, where he was arrested, and the firearm was recovered.

Deluna was booked into the Merced County Sheriff’s Office Jail for Attempted Murder. No other individuals involved were harmed, and this is believed to be an isolated incident. This remains an ongoing investigation. Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Merced County Sheriff’s Office at 209.385.7445; callers may remain anonymous.

Source: Merced County Sheriff’s Office