Update: Police investigating whether car fire is tied to double homicide in south Modesto
Modesto police identified the two victims killed in a shooting Tuesday in south Modesto. Detectives also are looking into whether a car fire Wednesday night at the same location is connected to the case.
The Police Department said Julian Sisk, 20, and Taurean Travis, 19, were killed during the shooting in the airport neighborhood. Investigators have not released any information about suspects.
Police officers responded at 1:22 p.m. Tuesday on reports of multiple shots fired in the 600 block of Thrasher Avenue, south of Oregon Drive.
A police spokeswoman said that Sisk and Travis died of gunshot wounds at the scene.
Modesto police are investigating the incident as a double homicide.
The shooting occurred in a residential area just south of Oregon Park. Not long after officers arrived to secure the area, the covered body of one of the victims was lying near a church at the corner of Thrasher and Oregon Drive.
Late Wednesday, firefighters and police officers responded to a vehicle fire at the same location as the homicides.
About 11:30 p.m., Modesto Fire and Stanislaus Consolidated Fire crews were dispatched to reports of a structure fire, according to a battalion chief’s incident report. They found a vehicle burning near a residence, quickly extinguished it and then made sure the fire had not extended into the home. The Stanislaus Regional Fire Investigation Unit also was on the scene.
“Detectives are aware of the car fire and are investigating whether it was related (to she shootings) or not,” Police Department spokeswoman Sharon Bear told The Bee in a text message Thursday. “If anyone has information regarding the car fire, they can contact Crime Stoppers or our investigations division.
“We would ask that people not take retaliation into their own hands — it only hinders the investigation and dilutes resources.”
Anyone with information about the homicides is urged to call Detective Josh Grant at 209-342-6104 or leave an anonymous tip with Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636.
