Turlock police increase patrols downtown following 2 deadly shootings

TURLOCK POLICE STEPPING UP PATROLS SATURDAY. WE FEEL REALLY COMFORTABLE. THIS AREA IS NORMALLY PRETTY POPULATED SO IT FEEL SAFE. THE INCREASE COMES, POLICE SAY, AFTER TWO DEADLY SHOOTINGS DOWN TOWN LAST WEEKEND. THIS WEEK IS A REALLY EMOTIONAL WEEK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. THERE WAS QUITE A FEW WAKES. QUITE A FEW VIGILS, QUITE A FEW JUST GATHERING THINGS. ELIAS POZO SAYS HE KNEW ONE OF THE VICTIMS. POLICE SAY ROBERT MORGAN WORKED AS A SECURITY GUARD AT GRAND CRU. AND WHILE NOT ON DUTY AT THE TIME, WAS HELPING HIS COWORKERS BREAK UP A FIGHT AT THE BAR AND IT STILL DOESN’T SEEM REAL. BUT A LOT OF. IT’S STILL A LITTLE HARD FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. AND YOU’LL NOTICE HERE AT CRU, THE LIGHTS ARE OFF, THE DOORS ARE LOCKED. POLICE SAY THAT THEY’VE SPOKEN WITH THE OWNER. THE OWNER DECIDED TO CLOSE DOWN FOR TWO WEEKS TO REVIEW THEIR SECURITY. THE OWNER SAYS HE WANTS THIS TO BE A SAFE PLACE FOR EVERYBODY. IN A STATEMENT, TURLOCK POLICE CHIEF WRITES, I HAD A DISCUSSION WITH MR. POWELL REGARDING THIS TRAGEDY AT GRAND CRU, AND HE LET ME KNOW HE IS HEARTBROKEN AND AT THE LOSS OF A VALUED STAFF MEMBER AND FRIEND. DEANNA MILLINERY SHARED SHE HAD HEARD WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO AND SATURDAY QUICKLY NOTICED THE INCREASE IN POLICE OFFICERS. OH, ABSOLUTELY. YES. YES, FOR SURE. AND I’VE EVEN NOW I’M NOTICING MORE POLICE OFFICERS DRIVING AROUND. STUFF ALSO MAKES YOU DEFINITELY FEEL SAFER. BECAUSE OAK WONDERS, THOUGH, IF THE INCREASE IN OFFICERS CAME TOO LATE AS HE AND OTHERS ARE GRIEVING, THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY STILL ABLE TO BE OUT SOCIAL AND COMMUNICATE AND BE THERE WHEN THEY NEED TO. IT MEANS MORE TO US THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY KNOW. IN

The Turlock Police Department is increasing its patrols downtown following two deadly shootings the weekend prior, the department announced. The increased patrols were scheduled to take place Saturday and Sunday.“It definitely makes you feel safer,” said Deanna Millentree, of Turlock. “It’s just really sad.”Police are investigating two shootings, believe to be unrelated, that happened on Jan. 14 and Jan. 15.Police said at 2:06 a.m., on Jan 14., officers responded to reports of a shooting near Market Street and South Broadway in downtown Turlock. Police said two men, of Patterson, were shot. Police said Romeo Portillo, 21, died from his injuries.Then, police said at 1:38 a.m., on Jan. 15, officers responded to a shooting behind the Udder Place and Grand Cru in downtown Turlock. Police said a 31-year-old man died after being shot multiple times in the shooting. Police identified him as Robert Morgan, of Turlock -- and an off-duty security guard at Grand Cru. He had stepped in to help coworkers trying to break up a fight before he was shot, police said.Elias Pazokh, who said he was a longtime friend of Morgan, said Saturday a memorial was held earlier in the day and that those who knew Morgan were still processing what had happened.“This week is a really emotional week for a lot of people,” he said. “It still doesn’t seem real.”The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department is assisting the Turlock Police Department with the increased law enforcement presence. Turlock police asked anyone who sees suspicious activity to call the Turlock Police Department at (209) 668-1200. And, in case of emergency, call 911.

TURLOCK, Calif. —

“It definitely makes you feel safer,” said Deanna Millentree, of Turlock. “It’s just really sad.”

Police are investigating two shootings, believe to be unrelated, that happened on Jan. 14 and Jan. 15.

Police said at 2:06 a.m., on Jan 14., officers responded to reports of a shooting near Market Street and South Broadway in downtown Turlock. Police said two men, of Patterson, were shot. Police said Romeo Portillo, 21, died from his injuries.

Then, police said at 1:38 a.m., on Jan. 15, officers responded to a shooting behind the Udder Place and Grand Cru in downtown Turlock. Police said a 31-year-old man died after being shot multiple times in the shooting.

Police identified him as Robert Morgan, of Turlock -- and an off-duty security guard at Grand Cru. He had stepped in to help coworkers trying to break up a fight before he was shot, police said.

Elias Pazokh, who said he was a longtime friend of Morgan, said Saturday a memorial was held earlier in the day and that those who knew Morgan were still processing what had happened.

“This week is a really emotional week for a lot of people,” he said. “It still doesn’t seem real.”

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department is assisting the Turlock Police Department with the increased law enforcement presence.

Turlock police asked anyone who sees suspicious activity to call the Turlock Police Department at (209) 668-1200. And, in case of emergency, call 911.

Turlock police increase patrols downtown following 2 deadly shootings

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