1 killed, 3 injured in California shootout

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Police Saturday arrested three people, including two 16-year-olds, after a shootout in Merced, California, that killed a man and injured three.

Elyas Jerry Aguilar, 18, is one of the latest victims in the US to lose his life to gun violence, according to the Merced Police Department. Those who were wounded were taken to trauma centers. 

The shooting took place at 3:12 am at a parking lot downtown across the street from Merced City Hall, and a few blocks from police headquarters, according to a statement by the police.

A 16-year-old started shooting at a vehicle that had people inside, according to the police, who reported that there was "an exchange of gunfire" ensued. The aggressing teenager is one of the injured as he was hit by a bullet, in addition to being arrested on the suspicion of murder, gang allegations, and shooting at an occupied vehicle. 

"There were numerous people fleeing on foot and in vehicles, some of them armed," the report said, with the scene being described as "chaotic."

A second 16-year-old was arrested after officers said he was running from a scene with a gun that may have killed the man. The teenager was booked based on weapon as well as gang allegations. 

The third arrested was Marcos Montoya, 25, who was booked on allegations of negligent discharge of firearms, in addition to carrying a concealed firearm in a public place and possession of an unregistered firearm, according to the police. 

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A Politico poll in June revealed that more than two-thirds of Americans now support stricter gun control measures, the highest proportion ever recorded.

"According to the June 10-12 survey, 68% of voters support stricter gun control laws, higher than the previous record of 66%, which was set after the 2019 mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio," a release on the poll revealed.

The poll indicated that support for stricter gun control among all voters increased by 8% after the May 14 shooting in Buffalo, New York,  and the massacre of 19 schoolchildren with two of their teachers in Uvalde, Texas, by an 18-year-old with an AR-15 automatic rifle.

The release highlighted that record-high shares of Democrats (90%) and independents (67%) back stronger gun restrictions, along with 44% of Republicans, although just over half of Republican voters (51%) oppose tougher gun laws, including 34% who do so "strongly".

The survey was carried out from June 10-12 among 2,005 registered US voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2%, according to the release.