An alleged drive-by shooter and his driver – both charged with attempted murder – were arrested by police within seven hours  after the early Monday morning  “gang” shooting of an 18-year-old Manteca man standing in the 100 block of West Alameda Street near Sycamore Avenue.
Manteca Police said they got the call at 1:23 a.m. that a man had been shot and was lying wounded with multiple gun shots in a planter box near a church at that location.  Witnesses gave the description of the shooter’s car as a white, 1997 Honda,  with a black front bumper – a description that would lead officers to the responsibles later in the morning at about 8:30 a.m. after a detective spotted the vehicle in a Manteca neighborhood. They made a traffic stop in the 500 block of North Street near St. Anthony’s Church.
Driver Susan Sandoval,21, was asked by the detective where she was coming from in the vehicle and she noted she had been at a residence in the 400 block of North Lincoln Avenue.  Officers went to that address and discovered the alleged shooter and the driver of the vehicle along  with the resident of the home, 36-year-old Mo Andrade.
Police said Andrade was operating a methamphetamine refining operation in his house where officers located four pounds of meth. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance for sale and for the manufacturing of a controlled substance, police said.
When detectives drove to the residence they reported seeing men standing in the front yard as though nothing had happened.
Officers went to the front door and the rear entrance as well and captured shooting suspect Robert Gonzalez, 26, of Ripon as he attempted to flee the rear of the home, they reported.  Both Gonzalez and driver Jose Cortez, III, 27, of Modesto attempted to elude officers as he ran back into the house. They were arrested on attempted murder charges in the shooting of the 18-year-old gang member on Alameda Street.  Both were charged with four felonies and for their participation in a street gang.
The shooting took place some two blocks west of North Main Street.
The victim was taken to a local hospital with his name and location kept confidential for his own safety while he is hospitalized, police said. He had been shot in the lower torso and pelvis area and in a leg and is in critical but stable condition, according to officers. 
The suspects were also charged with gang enhancement and assault with a deadly weapon – firearm.  They are being held in the San Joaquin County Jail with no bail allowed toward their release. 

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.