Suspect who used air rifle to kill Merced man arrested, facing murder charge, police say

A suspect accused of using an air rifle to kill a man in December has been arrested.

Angel Saavedra Barraza Jr., 32, was arrested at 9:41 a.m. Thursday in connection with the Dec. 11 shooting death of 41-year-old Aaron Albert Jimenez, according to a Merced Police Department news release. Police say the victim was shot at close range with the rifle.

Barraza was arrested without incident Thursday while detectives served a search warrant in Newman.

At 7:42 p.m. Dec. 11 officers responded to a report of a gunshot victim at a residence in the 3300 block of Olympic Court near Loughborough Drive, according to police. Arriving officers located Jimenez at a residence with a wound to the chest.

Lifesaving efforts were attempted but Jimenez was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives determined the shooting occurred a few blocks away from where Jimenez died. The suspect allegedly fled the scene in a vehicle after the shooting.

Barraza is being held at the Merced County Jail on suspicion of felony murder, misdemeanor trespassing, resisting and multiple infractions, according to jail records. He remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bond.

Police ask anyone with information to contact Detective Steven Odom at 209-388-7814 or by email at odoms@cityofmerced.org.

Some crimes can be reported through the Merced Police Department website and anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 209-385-4725.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted to law enforcement through the Merced Area Crime Stoppers website.