Carlos Ramirez Chaidez, a 17-year-old male from Winton, California, was tragically killed in a shooting at a late-night party in Merced County. The incident occurred shortly after midnight on April 27, 2025, on Gertrude Avenue near North Winton Way. According to authorities, Carlos Ramirez Chaidez sustained a gunshot wound to the thigh and was critically injured.
Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries approximately two hours later.
The shooting also left two other victims wounded—a 17-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man—both of whom suffered gunshot wounds to their legs. Investigators reported that the victims did not know each other prior to attending the party. Witnesses described the suspects as occupants of a white sedan who drove by the gathering, shouted gang-related slurs, and then opened fire on the group outside the home. The Merced County Sheriff's Office has indicated that the shooting may have been gang-related, though the exact motive remains unclear.
Carlos Ramirez Chaidez’s sister, Monique Ramirez, rushed to the scene upon hearing of the shooting and pleaded with her brother to hold on. She later expressed her grief, stating that he did not deserve such a fate and lamenting the ongoing violence affecting young people in Winton. Their mother revealed that Carlos had told her he was going to the fair with friends, unaware that he had attended a party instead.
As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. Authorities continue to investigate the case and urge anyone with information to come forward. The community remains shaken by the loss of Carlos Ramirez Chaidez, a young life cut short by senseless violence.
