Dozens of arrests following investigation into gang murder in Merced County

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) – Gathered in a large conference room behind tables stacked with a variety of weapons and large bags full of drugs, law enforcement announced the results of an 18-month investigation.

“No fentanyl in our city, no gang violence on our streets. No murderer will get away with what he thought was his life,” said Merced County District Attorney Nicole Silveira.

Operation Red Rooster began in 2022 with a gang murder and attempted murder in Livingston.

Police arrested one suspected shooter, but another remained at large.

During this time, the Merced Area Gang and Narcotic Enforcement Team, local city and county law enforcement, the FBI and the California Department of Justice worked together to investigate the gang responsible and its operations in Merced County.

On Thursday morning, these law enforcement partners visited dozens of locations across the country and seized more than 60 pounds of illegal drugs and nearly 30 weapons.

They also arrested 41 people, including Freddy Hernandez, who authorities say is responsible for the 2022 murder in Livingston.

“It’s very rewarding and rewarding to know that there are other agencies you can turn to when you don’t have the resources,” said John Ramirez, interim chief of the Livingston Police Department. “Even for an operation of this magnitude, even our local agencies in Merced County didn’t have the resources.”

No one was injured in the raid, but Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke says violence was used in some cases.

“We were serious,” Wernke said. “We had a man in a town in Merced County who had barricaded himself in, and a SWAT team from a neighboring agency stormed in and had to use significant force to get him out.”

Action News was told that officers and agents were still investigating and gathering additional evidence Thursday evening and that additional arrests and developments are expected as this investigation continues.

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