Gilberto Ramirez, 55, was found with a fatal gunshot wound on August 20, 2025, along the 4600 block of Hunt Road just south of Gustine, California. Deputies responded around 4:14 p.m.; he was pronounced dead at the scene and the Merced County Coroner later confirmed his identity. Investigators processed the rural property, described as private land surrounded by fields off Hunt Road between Gun Club and Taglio, and publicly treated the death as suspicious before classifying it as a homicide.

Within about 24 hours detectives identified 46-year-old Timothy Fontes as a suspect. On the morning of August 21 deputies located Fontes driving a pickup near Gustine and arrested him without incident, with SWAT assistance. He was booked into the Merced County Jail on suspicion of felony murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and enhancements tied to prior serious felony convictions; records noted he was held without bond while the case was filed with the District Attorney’s Office. Authorities said Ramirez and Fontes knew each other but declined to describe the relationship, and the investigation remained active.

Did anyone in the Gustine area know Ramirez or have information about his movements on August 20, 2025?