26-year-old arrested for deadly shooting in Merced County, deputies say

DELHI, Calif. (KFSN) -- A suspect has been arrested in connection to a homicide investigation in Merced County.

Deputies responded to reports of shots fired at a home on Bloss and Merced avenues around 11:30 am.

That's where they found 58-year-old Martha Mendoza fatally shot.

"This person had a family. You know, they were someone to someone, and it's such a tragic incident," Merced County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Alexandria Britton said. "I'm very grateful that our detective's unit was able to locate the suspect as fast as they were."

Authorities arrested Garcia at a nearby home on Darlington Street on Thursday.

"I saw a whole bunch of sheriffs, and then they had the people on the sitting on the grass," a neighbor of the suspect, Diana Lopez, explained.

Neighbors are shocked by the incident and say the suspect comes from a good family.

"It makes me sad," Lopez said. We don't know the whole story, but it makes me sad because I know the mother must be crying."

Garcia is booked in the Merced County jail on murder charges.

It's still unclear if Garcia knew the victim.

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