Ceres Police detectives are investigating a likely connection between two weekend shootings of two homeless men that occurred minutes apart in two different locations.

One man died and the other survived.

According to Sgt. Dirk Niewenhuis, someone called the 911 dispatch center at approximately 12:33 a.m. Sunday about an unresponsive man near the canal bank adjacent to the former Walmart store at 1670 Mitchell Road. Officers found a 39-year-old transient man who had died from a gunshot wound.

Within minutes, a 53-year-old homeless man was shot about a mile away at the intersection of Hatch and Faith Home roads. That man sustained only minor injuries and is recovering.

The investigation bureau is actively examining potential motives behind the two shootings.

Authorities are urging anyone with information related to these incidents to reach out to Detective Matthew Berlier at (209) 538-5616 or to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers. The public’s help could be vital in advancing this investigation.