The City of Turlock recorded its first homicide for the year with the death of a 46-year-old resident at a local motel.

The victim has been identified by the Turlock Police Department as Javier Manuel Zuniga, 46, of Turlock.              

Zuniga’s death first came to light when an acquaintance went to check on him Thursday afternoon at the Venice Motel at 1114 N. Golden State Boulevard. The acquaintance found Zuniga unresponsive and contacted the Turlock Police Department around 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

Zuniga had died from a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The police department did not release any other details about the fatality. The investigation is ongoing.

The death marked the first homicide in the city for 2017. In January the burned remains of Juan Carlos Ledesma-Infante, 39, of Stockton were found in a vehicle outside the city limits in the 5300 block of Griffin Road. That case was ruled a homicide and is being investigated by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department. Last year Turlock recorded seven homicides in the city.

In 2012, the Venice Motel was the scene of an arrest of a man wanted for killing a Texas woman.

The suspect(s) in this investigation are unknown at this time and the Turlock Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance for any known information surrounding this investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Brandon Bertram at (209) 664-7323, or the Turlock Police Department’s Tip Line at 209-668-5550 extension 6780 or email at tpdtipline@turlock.ca.us.