Los Banos, CA (January 21, 2026) — Two teenage boys were killed in a shooting Monday night in Merced, according to the Merced Police Department.
Police said officers responded to reports of a shooting around 7:00 p.m. near the Merced Behavioral Health Center on East 13th Street. Upon arrival, officers found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Family members identified the victims as Xavier Barragan and Nehemiah Green, both 14-years-old.
Merced police said investigators are reviewing multiple witness statements and are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Community members, family, and friends gathered near the scene to mourn the teens, leaving candles, flowers, and messages in their memory. The shooting occurred near Stonewall Elementary School, where students returned to campus following the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Police said school resource officers and counselors are available to support students and families affected by the incident.
No arrests have been announced, and the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information or surveillance footage related to the shooting is asked to contact the Merced Police Department at 209-385-6905.
