June 16, 2026 – Merced County Sheriff's Office officials report that on Sunday night, while Deputies were working at the Merced County Fairgrounds, they responded to the Carnival area for a physical altercation. Deputies located a 15-year-old victim who had been suffering from several stab wounds. The victim was transported to a local area hospital, where he is in critical condition.

Through their investigation, Deputies identified three suspects: 26-year-old Nathaniel Yanez and two juveniles. All three suspects have been taken into custody. This is believed to be an isolated incident; however, the investigation remains ongoing. We are aware of several videos circulating online related to this incident, and we’d like to thank the members of the public who have reached out to our agency.

Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is urged to contact our Detective Bureau at 209.385.7472 or the Sheriff’s Office anonymous tip line at 209.385.7547 or email: SheriffTips@countyofmerced.com.

Source: Merced County Sheriff's Office