A shooting at the heavily traveled Union Road and Yosemite Avenue intersection Sunday around 9:45 p.m. sent one man by ambulance to a trauma center at a Modesto hospital.

It was the fourth shooting in Manteca in six days resulting in seven gunshot victims. At least two were in critical condition when transported to hospitals. The condition of Sunday’s shooting victim is unknown.

Manteca Police cordoned off the southwest corner of Yosemite Avenue and Union Road as well as the southeast corner.

Manteca Fire personnel arrived on the scene to find one shooting victim on the sidewalk in front of a dental office at the southeast corner of the intersection and another man next to him that police had handcuffed.  There was one bullet hole in the side of the dental office building that had apparently missed its mark. Officers scoured the nearby bushes looking for more rounds or bullet casings.

There were reportedly numerous witnesses to the shooting and a number of police officers were on the scene attempting to interview those who had witnessed the victim being shot.

One couple living around the corner said they had been in their home watching a Filipino movie channel when they heard “boom, boom, boom, boom,” the woman said, noting they were four clear gun shots they had heard.

A crowd of interested bystanders stood on the street corner on the northwest corner watching the investigation unfold and seeing the numerous police cars and police motorcycles arrive at the scene.

Additional officers had been put on patrol for the last three nights hoping to curb any further violence in the community, and by almost 10 p.m. it looked like it had worked.  In addition to two sergeants there was at least one detective who had recently been retired who was involved in the investigation – Sam Gallego - who is now working on a part-time basis.

The man police detained for questioning was released shortly after 11 p.m. He lives with his stepmother at the Vernal Apartments, the complex just behind McDonald’s commercial center. The woman, at one point, went over to her stepson to give him a glass of water while the cops were interrogating him on the side of the road in front of the apartments while being handcuffed and sitting in a chair.

 A couple living near the corner of Virginia and Union Road, said they heard four gunshots around 9:45 p.m.

“It was loud. I know it was a gun,” said the wife who did not want their names mentioned.

The sound of the gunshots was loud enough that their dogs were agitated and started running around the house, barking.

It’s been a quiet evening, she said, which made the gunshots even that much clearer and louder.

The incident was upsetting, especially since just recently, another shooting happened right on the same street where they lived on Virginia Street. That incident happened at the other end of the street from where the couple lived.

“This place is very quiet. I don’t know what’s going on. It used to be very quiet here (in this neighborhood). Not anymore,” she added as she watched the police redirect traffic on Union Road.

At 11:30 p.m., Union Road from Yosemite to Virginia remained closed to traffic with yellow crime tape placed at both ends.