A 15-year-old boy was killed last Friday in the parking lot of the strip mall located at the corner of Hutchins and Park St in Lodi. Update: Suspect arrested in connection to this murder.
On July 2, 2021, a 15-year-old male by the name of Jorge Gonzales was shot and killed while walking near a strip mall in Lodi. The strip mall located at the corner of Hutchins and Park St is home to Rice and Spice International Food Products, the Postal Annex, Lodi Cuts Barber and Salon, and Get Lit Discount Tobacco Shop.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Jorge Gonzales with a gunshot wound to the upper body. Lodi Police Department, Lodi Fire Department, and American Medical Response teams performed life saving measures at the scene before transporting 15-year-old Gonzales to a local hospital, where he massed away due to his injuries.
Detectives from the Lodi Police Department do not believe this incident was random, but the case is still under investigation. Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact LPD at (209) 333-6727 or Detective Carillo at (209) 269-4781. You may also contact the Lodi Area Crime Stoppers at (209) 369-2746 to remain anonymous. (Please reference LPD Case #21-4244).
This is the fourth homicide of 2021 within Lodi. The previous three have been reported here.
Updated July 9, 2021
The Lodi Police Department notified the community via their Facebook page that a 17-year-old male was arrested and booked in juvenile hall for his involvement in the homicide of 15-year-old Jorge Gonzales on July 2, 2021. An altercation had occurred between two groups in the parking lot before shots were fired. Although the two groups appear to know each other, the exact motive for the homicide is still unknown at this time.
