WINTON -- A 61-year-old man was flown to a Modesto hospital after being wounded in a drive-by shooting around 7 a.m. Monday.

Merced County Sheriff's Department investigators have few details in the shooting.

Sheriff's spokesman Tom MacKenzie said the victim was taking his routine morning walk along Jones Road, north of Santa Fe Drive, when someone driving a grey or green truck drove by and shot him. MacKenzie said the man suffered a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.

After he was shot, the victim stumbled to a neighbor's home and asked for help. The neighbor called 911, and sheriff's deputies arrived shortly after.

MacKenzie said nobody has been arrested and the identity of the victim hasn't been released.

MacKenzie said the man usually walks in the morning five days a week, and there's no known motive for the shooting. MacKenzie said detectives were waiting for the victim to come out of surgery before interviewing him.

While investigators gave no description of the shooter, MacKenzie said the truck was an older model Chevy or GMC.

Deputies are asking anyone with information about the crime to call (209) 385-7445.

Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or

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