Michael Salvador, Coalinga’s former chief of police, has his hands full in Atwater where a drive-by shooting today (March 15, 2019) left Ethan Morse, dead. Morse was the son of former Merced County District Attorney, Larry Morse II.
Atwater police have confirmed the victim in the shooting has died, and the case has been declared a homicide. Morse was treated at the scene and taken to a hospital where he later succumbed to his injury.
Police responded to the 1800 block of Fir Avenue around 10 a.m. regarding a report of a drive-by shooting and found the victim, who is being tended to by medical personnel.
Three nearby schools were put on lockdown, police said. St. Anthony’s School, Mitchell Senior School and Mitchell K-6 were placed on lockdown after the shooting.
The alleged shooter was described as being a Hispanic male, wearing sunglasses, a black T-shirt and tan pants. He fled eastbound on Fir Street.