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. Please consult with a translator for accuracy if you are relying on the translation or are using this site for official business. I am also very proud of the hard work and dedication of the Visalia Police detectives who have worked so diligently on this case and to all of our law enforcement partners on this investigation for their contributions and resources to help bring justice to these families and to our community., Todays announcement is the result of a collaborative effort between local, state, and federal agencies targeting a violent gangs supply chain of methamphetamine, said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. Those individuals with information are asked to contact the Visalia Police Departments Violent Crimes Unit at (559) 713-4234. The team also seized approximately20pounds of cocaine from suspects involved in the trafficking. FOX26. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. Your email address will not be published. After receiving several tips, investigators ask for the public's help to identify the owner or anyone associated with two vehicles. VISALIA Just a few weeks after DOJ partnered with local law enforcement in Texas, the U.S. WebBased on all information revealed during the investigation, detectives have identified suspects Mark Aceves (20), Cesar Lopez (19), and Abraham Molina (20) as being Upon approaching the vehicle, officers located two deceased males in the vehicle and one deceased male in the parking lot, all suffering from gunshot wounds. Ashley Williams is Blake's mother. Today at 4:31 PM. The third was just a short distance away. The suspects are known Sureo, southern, gang members or associates, Salazar said. WebOne year after three young men were gunned down in a parking lot at Golden West High School in Visalia, police are still searching for the suspects involved. The firearms were then sold to local gang members or smuggled into Mexico in exchange for morenarcotics. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Visalia Police Chief Jason Salazar, Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward, and Eastern District Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Sanchez were on-hand to announce the arrests of Mark Aceves, 20, Cesar Lopez, 19, and Abraham Molina, 20 on charges related to the deaths of three teens in Visalia in 2020. Law enforcement agencies may ask the Governor to issue rewards in certain unsolved cases where they have exhausted all investigative leads to encourage individuals with information about the crimes to come forward, the Governors office wrote in a press release. The night after the murder, Additional arrests are expected to be made by law enforcement agencies in Oregon and Texas in connection with this investigation. Celestina Sanchez. Additionally, detectives identified several other Sureo gang members and associates that were involved in the subsequent effort to destroy evidence following the homicide. Postal Service, according to investigators. Today, 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. On Dec. 20, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a reward for information that helped lead to an arrest in the triple homicide. Gavin Newsom authorized a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the unsolved homicide case dating back to May 5, 2020. Twenty-seven Sureo gang members were arrested, including the three Visalia homicide suspects. A press release from the Visalia Police Department. Detectives learned that local Sureo gang members and associates were importing guns from Texas and were paying for the weapons with methamphetamine and cocaine from drug trafficking organizations in Mexico. Everybody's family is going to keep fighting.". The weapons and drugs were being shipped through the U.S. 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. Mark Aceves,20;Cesar Lopez, 19;and Abraham Molina, 20, were arrested and charged inthe May 2020 triple homicide. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 1979-2023 Valley Voice, all rights reserved. WebArrests in Visalia triple homicide lead to criminal enterprise bust AboutPressCopyrightContact usCreatorsAdvertiseDevelopersTermsPrivacyPolicy & 3 men arrested in connection to 2020 triple homicide in Visalia. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California to seize several postal packages containing18firearms. VISALIA On January 13, 2022, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies announced the outcomes of a major operation that resulted in the arrests of three gang members suspected of killing three teenagers at a local high school in Visalia in 2020. This investigation utilized law enforcement departments from the local, state and federal level and resulted in dozens of arrests, and the seizure of weapons and illegal drugs. WebOn May 5, 2020, officers responded to a shooting in the parking lot of Golden West High School in Visalia. VISALIA, 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. During the investigation, law enforcement agents identified Sureo gang members as suspects in the murders. 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. They're often identified by wearing blue bandanas, clothes and jewelry and the number 13. 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. The investigation also uncovered a drug and firearm trafficking ring run by members and associates of the Sureos. "We want to know what happened to our boys," said Williams. All Rights Reserved. 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. Violent Crimes Detectives with the Visalia Police Department have worked the case tirelessly since that night. Detectives also met with the victims'family members on a regular basis to keep them updated on the progress of this case. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. WebSuspect in Visalia triple homicide pleads not guilty to murder charges. 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. Web-VISALIA TRIPLE HOMICIDE UPDATE & OPERATION TRAILBLAZER PRESS RELEASE-On May 5th, 2020, at 11:15 p.m. officers were dispatched to the parking lot of Golden West High School in response to a report of shots fired. This investigation utilized law enforcement departments from the local, state and federal level and resulted In May 2020, investigators say they responded to reports of shots being fired in the high school parking lot. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Two of the victims Once officers arrived, they located a solo vehicle in the parking lot. On Thursday, Visalia Police Chief Jason Salazar stood at a podium placed inside a spaciousexhibit hall at the Visalia Convention Center. On Dec. 20, Gov. Anyone with information on the shooting or the two vehicles is asked to call the Visalia Police Department. Theyve authored ninety (90) search warrants, conducted sixty (60) interviews, searched over two hundred twenty (220) digital accounts, and followed up on numerous anonymous tips. "Whatever happens in the dark comes to light," Williams said. The victims were later identified as 19-year-old Jose Hernandez-Pena, 19-year-old Blake Medeiros, and 18-year-old Isaiah Rule. Two of the victims were found in a car. Officers arrived and found three victims suffering from gunshot wounds. All three of the suspects are Sureo street gang members or associates. Thank you to the law enforcement officers who risked their safety to investigate and arrest these dangerous suspects. CSLEA President Alan Barcelona. All rights reserved. "I don't know how to go on without him. In July 2021, the Visalia Police Department requested assistance from the California Department of Justices (DOJ) Special Operations Unit (SOU) with its investigation into the triple homicide. USPS inspectors coordinated with Texas authorities, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorneys Office to seize several postal packages. Visalia Police Department Violent Crimes Detectives, Special Enforcement Unit Officers, and Crime Scene Investigators were called out to assist in the investigation. 20-year Mark At the same time, a photo of possiblevehicle used in the slayingwere released to the public in hopes of identifying the suspects. Abraham Molina, 20, entered a not guilty plea on Tuesday. VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- Authorities have announced the arrests of three men in connection with a triple homicide that occurred in May 2020 in Visalia. 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. I am also very proud of the hard work and dedication of the Visalia police detectives who have worked so diligently on this case and to all of our law enforcement partners on this investigation for their contributions and resources to help bring justice to these families and to our community.. As you know, sometimes it takes months and even years," Ward said. Here's why. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. The firearms were then sold to local gang members or smuggled into Mexico in exchange for morenarcotics. Visalia Police DepartmentVisalia police are looking for these vehicles thought to be linked to an unsolved triple homicide. Abraham Molina, 20, entered a not guilty plea on Tuesday. The weapons and narcotics were being shipped through the U.S. Anyone with information is asked to call the Visalia Police Department and you can remain anonymous. "No family should have to endure a loss like that.". 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. Today at 3:54 PM. RELATED: 3 dead after shooting in parking lot at Golden West High School in Visalia. In December of 2021, the Governor approved the reward. Now, nearly three months since the homicide, Visalia police are turning to the community for help with information. 2 girls injured after being hit by car in Atwater, police say, 96-year-old WWII vet among Bass Lake residents snowed in, Snow, graupel, hail fall at unusual spots throughout SoCal. 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. 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