During the investigation, law enforcement agents identified Sureo gang members as suspects in the murders. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. "It is not going to fix it, but it will still give us some answers that we are looking for.". Authorities have announced the arrests of three men in connection with a triple homicide that occurred in May 2020 in Visalia. If you have any questions please contact: Bilingual Services Program at (916) 210-7580. "And that they can begin to heal knowing that those who are responsible for this crime are in custody where they belong.". Please consult with a translator for accuracy if you are relying on the translation or are using this site for official business. Over the course of the investigation, the Visalia Police Department was assisted by the Tulare County Sheriffs Office, Tulare County District Attorneys Office, US Attorneys Office Eastern District of California, Federal Bureau of Investigation, California Department of Justice Bureau of Investigations & Firearms, and the California Highway Patrol Special Operations Unit. After receiving several tips, investigators ask for the public's help to identify the owner or anyone associated with two vehicles. During the evening of May 5, 2020, three teenagers were shot and killed in a vehicle in the parking lot of Golden West High School in Visalia. Law enforcement agents also seized24 firearmsduring the operation. Anyone with Additionally, detectives identified several other Sureo gang members and associates that were involved in the subsequent effort to destroy evidence following the homicide. TRAFFIC ALERT: Several lanes are now blocked going North on Highway 41 due to a multiple-vehicle collision in Fresno. Gavin Newsom. A woman threw a house party with 65 men she matched with on Tinder and Hinge and connected with the man she's been dating for a year. WebPolice say Molina was the one to fire the gun that killed the three teens. January 19, 2022, 9:38 AM. He was surrounded by local, stateand federal law enforcement. Nikkole Rule-Balderrama says when she found out the police had made multiple arrests in her sons Operation Trailblazer focused on the enhanced surveillance and investigation of individuals believed to be directly involved with the triple homicide and who were members of the Sureo criminal street gang in the cities of Visalia and Ivanhoe. Copyright - California Statewide Law Enforcement Association, California DOJ Assists Detectives with Homicide, ABC Agents Arrest Two Bartenders Accused of Serving, Seven Arrested for 2020 Homicide of a 15-Year-Old in Visalia, CDFW Wardens Safely Transport Mountain Lion Out of, CSLEA Political & Legislative Consultants. California DOJ partnered with local law enforcement in Texas, the U.S. Further investigation into the gang revealed that several members and associates were importingboth stolen and lawfully purchasedfirearmsfrom Texasusing proceeds from the sale oftheillegal narcoticswhich were being trafficked into California from Mexico. Thank you to the law enforcement officers who risked their safety to investigate and arrest these dangerous suspects. CSLEA President Alan Barcelona. During todays search and arrest operation,27Sureos members and associates were arrested, including three who are suspected to be directly involved in the triple homicide. Phone: 559-761-0383 "I don't know how to go on without him. "Our hope is that today's operation can begin to bring some justice to these families," Salazar said. Thank you to all of the officers and agents who worked together to solve these murders and get those involved off our streets.. As you know, sometimes it takes months and even years," Ward said. On the anniversary of the young men's deaths, family and friends gathered where their lives were tragically taken, to fill the space with hope and light, and to support one another in the fight for justice. "As a mother they are a part of you so you don't just physically feel like you're dying, it is mentally, it is spiritually, it is everything," she said. WebThree Gang Members Suspected in Triple Homicide in Visalia Arrested. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 1979-2023 Valley Voice, all rights reserved. WebThe shooting occurred on May 5, 2020, at Golden West High School in Visalia where Jose Hernandez-Pea, 19, Isaiah Rule, 18, and Blake Medeiros, 19 were killed. Celestina Sanchez. WebVISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- Visalia police are one step closer to solving the murders of three men who were shot to death outside Golden West High School last year. Detectives also met with the victims'family members on a regular basis to keep them updated on the progress of this case. I am grateful that this investigation has led to the arrests of suspects involved in the May 2020 triple homicide of Jose Hernandez-Pea, Isaiah Rule, and Blake Medeiros and that this will begin to bring healing and justice to their families. Visalia Police Chief Jason Salazar said. During the investigation, law enforcement agents identified Sureo gang members as suspects in the murders. WebVisalia Police and multiple law enforcement agencies arrested three gang members in a May 2020 triple homicide at local high school, others on drug, weapons charges DOJs Special Operations Unit is a collaborative investigative effort between DOJ and the California Highway Patrol. In October, detectivesapplied for a $50,000 reward through the State of California Governors Office to help solve the case. The Golden West mascot is the trailblazers. I don't know how to accept that he is gone.". VISALIA Just a few weeks after After receiving "An investigation that began with the tragic murder of three young people in Visalia led to law enforcement uncovering a drug and firearm conspiracy that reached from California to Texas and Mexico," state Attorney General Rob Bonta said. On Sept. 29, 2020, the Visalia Police Department partnered with Central Valley Crime Stoppers and the friends and family ofRule, Medeirosand Hernandez-Pea to offer a $9,000 reward for information leading to an arrest of the suspects. TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) In a joint press conference Thursday, state and local officials announced the arrest of suspects said to be involved in the 2020 deaths of three teens in Visalia. Once officers arrived, they located a solo vehicle in the parking lot. On January 13th, 2021, the SOU, the Visalia Police Department, the Tulare County Sheriffs Department, the Tulare County District Attorney, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed 27 search warrants and 22 arrest warrants in Tulare County in connection with the investigation. Here's why. The day that an arrest is made in a murder investigation, marks the beginning of a path to justice for grieving families. Police say all three men are gang members or associates. Ashley Williams is Blake's mother. An investigation that began with the tragic murder of three young people in Visalia led to law enforcement uncovering a drug and firearms conspiracy that reached from California to Texas and Mexico,said Attorney General Rob Bonta. Girls high school basketball team forfeits a game because it refused to play against a team with a transgender player, Fox Leaders Wanted to Break From Trump but Struggled to Make It Happen, Not Going to Read That: White House Press Secretary Brushes Off DeSantis Op-Ed, Sunshine returns to SoCal on Thursday but cold temps stick around, A $5 Billion Market Awaits this A.I. All Rights Reserved. FOX26. "I'm going to keep fighting. This Google translation feature is provided for informational purposes only. One year after three men were gunned down in a parking lot at Golden West High School in Visalia, police are still searching for the suspects. Postal Service. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. WebSuspect in Visalia triple homicide pleads not guilty to murder charges. "They've exhausted leads and that's why we're asking for the public's assistance," says Visalia Police Sgt. On May 5th 2020, Isaiah was gunned down in the Golden West High School parking lot along with his two friends, Blake Medeiros and Jose Hernandez. The team also seized approximately20pounds of cocaine from suspects involved in the trafficking. WebLate Tuesday night, police officers in Visalia, a San Joaquin Valley city about 40 miles southeast of Fresno, responded to a report of shots fired at a high school. Based on all information revealed during the investigation, detectives have identified suspects Mark Aceves (20), Cesar Lopez (19), and Abraham Molina (20) as being involved in the triple homicide that occurred in the City of Visalia on May 5, 2020. On Thursday, 300 officers from multiple law enforcement agenciesserved 27 state search warrants, 18 state arrest warrants, five federal search warrantsand four federal arrest warrants. A press release from the Visalia Police Department. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Isaiah Rule, along with 19-year-old Blake Mederios and 19-year-old Jose Pena, were gunned down in the parking lot of Golden West High School back in May. On May 5, 2020, officers were On Dec. 20, Gov. RELATED: 3 dead after shooting in parking lot at Golden West High School in Visalia. I am grateful that this investigation has led to the arrests of suspects involved in the May 2020 triple homicide of Jose Hernandez-Pea, Isaiah Rule, and Blake Medeiros and that this will begin to bring healing and justice to their families. Visalia Police Chief Jason Salazar said. During the evening of May 5, 2020, three teenagers were shot and killed in a vehicle in the parking lot of Golden West High School in Visalia. VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- One suspect has made his first court appearance in connection to a Visalia triple homicide. Breakthrough, Wake-Up Weather: AM showers then mild and breezy, Government must build a better process for infrastructure projects | Opinion. Violent Crimes Detectives with the Visalia Police Department have worked the case tirelessly since that night. "It's only a matter of time.". The Visalia Police Department was aided by the followingagencies: I am grateful that this investigation has led to the arrests of suspects involved and that this will begin to bring healing and justice to their families. Salazar said. Do you have a problem that you need help solving? An investigation that began with the tragic murder of three young people in Visalia led to law enforcement uncovering a drug and firearms conspiracy that reached from California to Texas and Mexico,said Attorney General Rob Bonta. Police believe the victims came to the parking lot in the same car, but it's unclear what led up to the gunfire. Over the course of the investigation, 37arrests were made, at leastfiveviolent crimes were prevented, and a total of56firearms were seized from Sureo gang members and associates. VISALIA Authorities investigating the fatal shootings of three teenagers said Thursday they have arrested three men suspected in the killings and two dozen other gang members connected to a drug and weapons trafficking operation. WebVisalia Police are looking for two vehicles they believe are associated with the killing of three teens in the Golden West parking lost last year. On January 13th, 2022, Officers and Tactical Units from Visalia Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Kings County Sheriffs Office, Porterville Police Department, Kings County Major Crimes Task Force, Fresno County District Attorneys Office, Tulare County Sheriffs Office, Department of Justice, California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation (CDCR), CDCR Pleasant Valley, Bakersfield Police Department, Merced County Sheriffs Office, Kern County Sheriffs Office, Fresno County Sheriffs Office, Tulare Police Department, CDCR North Kern, CDCR Corcoran, MAGEC Task Force, Sacramento FBI, Bakersfield FBI, and San Francisco FBI, served twenty-seven (27) state search warrants, eighteen (18) state arrest warrants, five (5) federal search warrants, and four (4) federal arrest warrants. They found two men dead in a vehicle and another nearby in the The teenagers Detectives learned that local Sureo gang members and associates were importing guns from Texas and were paying for the weapons with methamphetamine and cocaine obtained from drug trafficking organizations in Mexico. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. Previous coverage:DAcalls on lawmakers to bring justice to Operation Trailblazer suspects. Additional arrests are expected to be made by law enforcement agencies in Oregon and Texas in connection with this investigation. We need to speak up for these boys.". The unit provides statewide enforcement for combating violent career criminals, gangs, and organized crime groups, along with intrastate drug traffickers. At the same time, a photo of possiblevehicle used in the slayingwere released to the public in hopes of identifying the suspects. A solo vehicle in the murders Salazar said the slayingwere released to the law enforcement agents identified Sureo gang Suspected! 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