August 3, 2025 – Merced County Sheriff’s Office officials report that at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, Merced
County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 6400 block of Columbus Avenue in Hilmar for a welfare check. Family members reported hearing a gunshot coming from a separate residence on the property.
Upon arrival, deputies found the front door of the home wide open with a box of ammunition on the front porch. Inside, they located a male subject laying down who made suicidal statements and was later observed pacing inside the home while armed with a rifle and handgun. Despite repeated requests, the subject refused to disarm and exit the residence.
Deputies attempted to communicate with the subject, but the subject refused to respond. SWAT team negotiators arrived and made further attempts at verbal contact, but the subject threw his phone outside the house…