Merced authorities crack down on gang violence

DELHI, Calif. (KFSN) -- Dozens of law enforcement officers in Merced County spent Friday afternoon taking guns out of the hands of gang members.

They hit the streets after a sharp rise in shootings in Delhi. In just the past week, deputies say six daytime shootings have been reported.

Investigators hit two Delhi homes at one time where several shootings have been reported recently. Across the street, Shendel Elementary was put on lockdown as a precaution.

Merced County deputies say they've had enough of gang members terrorizing the small town.

"This house has been victimized by shootings three times," said Chuck Hale with the Merced County Sheriff's Department. "There have been other shootings in the Delhi area, for instance, we had one two days ago that was right in front of a preschool. That's the concern for the sheriff's office."

The growing problem prompted dozens of officers to swarm the area Friday afternoon. Armed with guns, deputies found gang members had plenty of weapons too.

A long shotgun was one of several guns found in a home occupied by Sureno gang members. Deputies are especially worried about the time of day the shootings are happening.

"Most of the shootings are happening in between early afternoon and early evening times," Hale said. "Like I said, it's broad daylight, nothing that's happening in the middle of the night or under the cover of darkness or anything like that."

Deputies came prepared to search 35 Delhi homes from one end of the city to the other. They parked a corrections bus at the Delhi substation to transport the gang members to jail. Most we're already on probation and parole and are not allowed to have firearms in their possession.