Jerman Gasper was 21 and a resident of Winton, California, when he was killed in a shooting on September 25, 2015, at Winton Way and Walnut Avenue. The shooting was one of a series of incidents in the area tied to a rise in gang-related violence. A 14-year-old boy was also shot that day and survived with critical injuries.

Merced County Sheriff’s deputies treated the event as a gang-related homicide and pursued an investigation. Investigators say there were witnesses, but cooperation was limited, and that has hindered progress. Sheriff Vern Warnke noted that while overall homicides were down in the county, gang violence had increased and posed a danger to the community.

No arrests or major breakthroughs have been reported and the case remains open. If anyone has information about what happened at Winton Way and Walnut Avenue on September 25, 2015, please contact investigators.