Lodi man, 19, and boy, 14, arrested after Vine Street shooting | News

Upon arrival, officers learned that several people retreating to a residence on Vine Street had fired shots at an occupied vehicle.

While the department’s SWAT unit and critical negotiations team responded to the scene, a cordon was set up and officers closed off Vine Street between Church and Sacramento streets.

According to police, three people tried to escape from the house around 1 p.m.

Edward Rodriguez, 19, of Lodi, and a 14-year-old boy were quickly arrested. Rodriguez was soon identified as the shooter, police said.

A third person, believed to be a boy, could not be found and police said there was no indication of a threat to public safety.

Investigators served search warrants at the scene and seized ballistics evidence, ammunition and a 9mm Polymer 80 handgun with an extended magazine, police said.

Rodriquez was originally booked into the Lodi City Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, conspiracy to commit a felony, gang enhancement and various firearms-related offenses.

He was ultimately booked into the San Joaquin County Jail at 7:30 p.m. that evening and is being held on $1 million bail. He is expected to appear in San Joaquin County Superior Court for arraignment on Monday, May 13, according to the jail’s inmate roster.

The 14-year-old boy was booked into Peterson Juvenile Hall in French Camp on suspicion of resisting arrest, conspiracy to commit a crime and gang enhancement.

The victim has been identified but has not yet come forward. His condition cannot be confirmed, but he is believed to be uninjured, police said.

Officers reopened Vince Street around 4:30 p.m

Thursday’s shooting and arrest was the first since the fall, when officers arrested 27-year-old Jerry Rayburn on suspicion of attempted murder.

Police said Rayburn shot a 36-year-old man multiple times on Oct. 30 in the 00 block of South Main Street.

Rayburn was arrested Nov. 3 and is being held without bail in the San Joaquin County Jail. The victim ultimately died and Rayburn was charged with murder.

His next court date is July 22.

An investigation into Thursday’s shooting is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Raul Elias at 209-269-4839 or Lodi police at 209-333-6728.

You can also remain anonymous by contacting Lodi Area Crimestoppers at 209-369-2746. Reference case 23-3304 when calling.

Drugs found in driver’s vehicle

Last Tuesday at approximately 4:42 a.m., officers with the Lodi Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by 53-year-old James Bitz of Lodi.

During the stop, a K9 unit checked the exterior of the vehicle and alerted the driver to the presence of drugs, police said.

Officers asked Bitz to exit the car and he was found to be in possession of a loaded handgun.

The K9 officer then checked the interior of the vehicle and located a bag on the floorboard of the vehicle. According to police, officers found more than 10 ounces of methamphetamine in the bag.

Bitz was arrested on suspicion of various weapons and drug offenses and booked into the Lodi City Jail.