On June 9, 2023, at approximately 2:35 p.m., Los Banos police officers and firefighters responded to reports of a shooting near Pacheco Boulevard and Tanner Road. Upon arrival, they found 36-year-old Peter Robert Noriega Jr. suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body. He was transported to Memorial Hospital Los Banos, where he was pronounced dead.
Detectives identified 28-year-old Jay Romero of Los Banos as the suspect in the shooting. Authorities believe that an argument between Noriega Jr. and Romero escalated, leading to the fatal shooting. Later that evening, around 9:30 p.m., Romero was located in Merced and taken into custody with assistance from the Merced Police Department. He was subsequently booked into the Merced County Jail on a murder charge.
This incident marked the first homicide in Los Banos for the year 2023. The Los Banos Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case. They have urged anyone with additional information to contact Detective Stephen O’Day at 209-827-2554. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the Los Banos Police Department's website or via the Merced Area Crime Stoppers.
