A 16-year-old boy who reportedly tried to steal marijuana from a Fresno grow site is missing and may have been shot, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday.

Detectives believe that Sammy Mercado and two friends drove to the field in southeast Fresno on Thursday morning to steal marijuana, sheriff’s Lt. Robert Salazar said at a news conference.

Sammy left the vehicle and entered the field, where he was confronted by two men who came out of a hut on the property, Salazar said.

Sammy’s friends drove away but returned a short time later. They reportedly heard gunshots and saw Sammy lying on the ground, Salazar said.

The teenager might have been put in the trunk of a four-door white Toyota Camry that a third man had driven to the field, Salazar said. He has not been seen since.

Sammy’s family reported him missing on Thursday evening to police in Sanger, about 15 miles east of Fresno. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office was contacted Friday afternoon, Salazar said.

Anyone with information on the Sanger teen’s whereabouts is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (559) 488-3111 or (559) 448-6358.

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