According to investigator, it was on Thursday morning that 16-year old Sammy Mercado and his two friends drove on to private property at Annadale and
“As Mr. Mercado exits the vehicle and goes into the field two Asian males came out of the hut that was on the property,” said Lt. Robert Salazar of the Fresno Co. Sheriff’s Dept.
Lt. Salazar says one of those Asian men fired shots in Mercado’s direction.
“There was evidence at the scene that Mr. Mercado was shot,” said Lt. Salazar.
His friends, who were still in the car, got scared.
“They took off leaving Mr. Mercado there at the scene,” said Lt. Salazar.
The friends later told police they saw an older Asian man pull up next to Mercado in a 4-door, white Toyota Camry.
“The trunk of car was opened, but they're not sure if they actually put Sammy in the trunk of the car,” said Lt. Salazar.
All three suspects have not been seen since that time.
Meanwhile, CBS47 spoke with a friend of Mercado’s in Sanger.
“I couldn't believe this was actually going on. I didn't want to believe it,” said Janessa Soto, Mercado’s friend.
Janessa Soto says Mercado and his buddies visited the field for one simple reason.
“Just trying to come up on marijuana,” said Soto.
She realizes that what her friend did was wrong. Now she's praying that this can just serve as a strong learning lesson.
“We’re hoping he's out there and he's ok. We just want him to come home safe,” said Soto.
If you have any information to help investigators find Sammy Mercado or the three men who confronted him, call the sheriff's department at