They found two men dead in a vehicle and another nearby in the January 19, 2022, 9:38 AM. To learn more about the Voice, click here. Loved ones say they will never be at ease until those responsible are held accountable, "We're going to keep fighting," said Balderama. "We want to know what happened to our boys," said Williams. WebDuring 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. 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. Here's why. WebPrevious coverage: 3 arrests made in Visalia triple homicide Police found Jose Hernandez-Pea, 19; Isaiah Rule, 18; and Blake Medeiros, 19, dead with gunshot Anyone with On September 29th, 2020, the Visalia Police Department partnered with Central Valley Crime Stoppers and the friends and family of Isaiah Rule, Blake Medeiros, and Jose Hernandez-Pea to offer a $9,000 reward for information leading to an arrest of the suspect or suspects responsible for the homicides. Jose Pena, Black Medeiros and Isaiah Rule shot to death in the parking lot of Golden West High School. The Visalia Police Department investigation into an unsolved triple homicide was given a boost by Gov. While the primary focus of the operation was to bring the suspects responsible for the homicides to justice, the investigation also uncovered an alleged criminal organization operating across state lines and into Mexico. A copy of this disclaimer can also be found on our Disclaimer page. "It is not going to fix it, but it will still give us some answers that we are looking for.". Ashley Williams is Blake's mother. DOJs Special Operations Unit is a collaborative investigative effort between DOJ and the California Highway Patrol. After a four-month investigation, participating law enforcement agencies say they prevented at least fiveviolent crimes and seized 56 firearms from Sureo gang members. They interviewed numerous witnesses, collected evidence, and authored search warrants in an attempt to piece together what happened that May night. 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. A press release from the Visalia Police Department. "They've exhausted leads and that's why we're asking for the public's assistance," says Visalia Police Sgt. DAcalls on lawmakers to bring justice to Operation Trailblazer suspects, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy, US Attorneys Office Eastern District of California, California Department of Justice Bureau of Investigations & Firearms, California Highway Patrol Special Operations Unit. On Dec. 20, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a reward for information that helped lead to an arrest in the triple homicide. 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 Over the course of the investigation, including todays operation,37arrests were made, at leastfiveviolent crimes were prevented, and a total of56firearms were seized from Sureo gang members and associates. Investigators from several agencies, including the Visalia Police Department, Tulare County Sheriff's Office, the Tulare County District Attorney's Office, the Attorney General's Office and the FBI arrested 20-year-old Mark Aceves, 19-year-old Cesar Lopez, and 20-year-old Abraham Molina Thursday morning. Rule says they plan to hold another justice walk on Wednesday in front of the Visalia Police Department to keep the boy's memory and investigation alive. Visalia Police Department applies for $50,000 from the state as a reward to find those responsible for gunning down three teenagers in the Golden West parking lot in May 2020. Staff, login here. California DOJ partnered with local law enforcement in Texas, the U.S. 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. Detectives continued to work leads and analyze data collected during the investigation. Gavin Newsom. Molina, along with 20-year Mark Aceves and 19-year old Cesar Lopez, is charged in the deaths of 19-year-old Jose Hernandez-Pena, 19-year-old Blake Medeiros, and 18-year-old Isaiah Rule. Triple Homicide Update Press Release Revision Date: 10/4/2021 (116.3 KB) More Info: 21-080714 Att. 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. The unit provides statewide enforcement for combating violent career criminals, gangs, and organized crime groups, along with intrastate drug traffickers. Detectives also met with the victims'family members on a regular basis to keep them updated on the progress of this case. Abraham Molina, 20, entered a not guilty plea on Tuesday. WebRELATED: 3 men arrested in connection to 2020 triple homicide in Visalia They were shot to death in May of 2020 in the parking lot at Golden West High School. 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. I have three other kids, so I have to wake up, but you just don't want to wake up.". If we can suffocate their funding sources, we can cripple their operations. 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. 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. Some people are upset at the way iPhones charge. 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. Additionally, arrests will also be made by law enforcement agencies in Oregon and Texas in connection with this investigation. Visalia Police Chief Jason Salazar and other authorities announced Thursday, January 13, 2022 the arrest of dozens of members of the Sureo criminal Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. USPS inspectors coordinated with Texas authorities, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorneys Office to seize several postal packages. Celestina Sanchez. The victims were later identified as 19-year-old Jose Hernandez-Pena, 19-year-old Blake Medeiros, and 18-year-old Isaiah Rule. The Golden West mascot is the trailblazers. 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. While we cannot take away the grief and loss the Visalia community has felt as a result of these horrific and senseless murders, we can bring to account the people who committed these crimes. Officers say the Governors reward of $50,000 is still available for those with direct knowledge of the shooting. It's still unclear how or if the suspects knew the victims before gunfire erupted. All Rights Reserved. During the January 13th search and arrest operation,27Sureos members and associates were arrested, including three who are suspected to be directly involved in the triple homicide. In July of 2021, the California Department of Justice and the California Highway Patrol Special Operations Unit were asked to join the investigation and assist investigators from the Visalia Police Department, Tulare County Sheriffs Office, and the Tulare County District Attorneys Office in what would become Operation Trailblazer. WebBased on all information revealed during the investigation, detectives have identified suspects Mark Aceves (20), Cesar Lopez (19), and Abraham Molina (20) as being WebThree Gang Members Suspected in Triple Homicide in Visalia Arrested. The investigation also uncovered a drug and firearm trafficking ring run by members and associates of the Sureos. My family is going to keep fighting. Abraham Molina, 20, entered a not guilty plea on Tuesday. DOJ partnered with local law enforcement in Texas, the U.S. FOX26. 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. Previous coverage:DAcalls on lawmakers to bring justice to Operation Trailblazer suspects. 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. 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. 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. "It's only a matter of time.". 3 men arrested in connection to 2020 triple homicide in Visalia. 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 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. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. Postal Inspectors and coordinated with local Texas Law Enforcement Agencies, the F.B.I., and the U.S. Attorneys Office to seize several postal packages. The third was just a short distance away. Nikkole Rule-Balderrama says when she found out the police had made multiple arrests in her sons This investigation was a success because of multiagency collaboration at all levels of law enforcement. The suspects are known Sureo, southern, gang members or associates, Salazar said. "Our hope is that today's operation can begin to bring some justice to these families," Salazar said. 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. 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. All three of the suspects are Sureo street gang members or associates. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. 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. 3 dead after shooting in parking lot at Golden West High School in Visalia. All Rights Reserved. Blake's mom, Ashley Williams, said she lost a piece of herself when her son's life was taken. All Rights Reserved. The day that an arrest is made in a murder investigation, marks the beginning of a path to justice for grieving families. The governors reward of $50,000 is still available to material witnesses who can provide investigators and prosecutors with direct knowledge of the triple homicide. These unique and essential teams use the latest technology and advanced investigative techniques and work alongside local law enforcement to enhance investigations into violent criminals and organized crime throughout the state. Throughout 2020 and 2021,detectives forged ahead in theirinvestigation. "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. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. VISALIA Just a few weeks after He was surrounded by local, stateand federal law enforcement. After receiving With that information, law enforcement agencies were able to seize 18 firearms and 20 pounds of cocaine. 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. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California to seize several postal packages containing18firearms. "I sit there waiting for him walking through the door," she said. 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. 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. Gavin Newsom to receive the reward. In the meantime, the victim's families are just waiting and praying for closure. Additionally, detectives identified several other Sureo gang members and associates that were involved in the subsequent effort to destroy evidence following the homicide. During the investigation, law Salazar also gave details surrounding Operation Trailblazer a multi-agency investigation into a drug and weapons trafficking ring. Today at 4:31 PM. Jose Carlos Hernandez Pena, 19, Isaiah Rule, 18, and Blake Madeiros, 19, were found dead in the The weapons and narcotics were being shipped through the U.S. Anyone with information on the shooting or the two vehicles is asked to call the Visalia Police Department. While the primary focus of this operation was to bring the suspects responsible for the homicides to justice, the investigation also identified a criminal enterprise operating across state lines and into the country of Mexico. They found two men dead in a vehicle and another nearby in the parking lot. All rights reserved. Detectives have contacted and interviewed numerous individuals, evaluated multiple items of evidence, and authored numerous search warrants to ascertain what occurred that night, and identify those responsible. One of the vehicles is a darker-colored truck, and the other is a light-colored car. Postal Service. The teenagers were found dead from gunshot wounds inside of a vehicle near the high school. 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. 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.