She and the other mothers have organized a justice walk to raise awareness. WebVisalia Police Department | 303 S. Johnson St., Visalia, CA 93291 | www.visalia.city ssg January 13, 2022 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. 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. 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. Thank you to all of the officers and agents who worked together to solve these murders and get those involved off our streets.. The team also seized approximately20pounds of cocaine from suspects involved in the trafficking. Detectives have also met with the victims family members on a regular basis to keep them updated on the progress of this case. 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. WebThree men were fatally shot in the parking lot of Golden West High School in Visalia Tuesday night. Additional arrests are expected to be made by law enforcement agencies in Oregon and Texas in connection with this investigation. In total, detectives authored 90 search warrants, conducted 60 interviews, searched over 220 digital accounts, and followed up on numerous anonymous tips. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California to seize several postal packages containing18firearms. With that information, law enforcement agencies were able to seize 18 firearms and 20 pounds of cocaine. But they believe there could be three suspects based on witness reports. 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. FOX26. Law enforcement agents also seized24 firearmsduring todays operation. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Abraham Molina, 20, entered a not guilty plea on Tuesday. Thank you to the law enforcement officers who risked their safety to investigate and arrest these dangerous suspects. CSLEA President Alan Barcelona. The suspects are known Sureo, southern, gang members or associates, Salazar said. 20-year Mark Aceves and 19-year old Cesar Lopez will be arraigned on January 25. Triple Homicide Update Press Release Revision Date: 10/4/2021 (116.3 KB) More Info: 21-080714 Att. WebPolice say Molina was the one to fire the gun that killed the three teens. On Dec. 20, Gov. 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. 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. They interviewed numerous witnesses, collected evidence, and authored search warrants in an attempt to piece together what happened that May night. If you have any questions please contact: Bilingual Services Program at (916) 210-7580. Visalia Police Department Violent Crimes Detectives, Special Enforcement Unit Officers, and Crime Scene Investigators were called out to assist in the investigation. Additionally, arrests will also be made by law enforcement agencies in Oregon and Texas in connection with this investigation. 2023 www.visaliatimesdelta.com. The night after the murder, Two of the victims were found in a car. 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. During the investigation, law A copy of this disclaimer can also be found on our Disclaimer page. The assistance of these various agencies was imperative in helping the Visalia Police Department to bolster the cases against the identified suspects and their associates. Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov, State of California Department of Justice, Consumer Protection and Economic Opportunity, California Justice Information Services (CJIS), Attorney General Bonta Announces Arrest of Gang Members Invo. Gavin Newsom to receive the reward. Candles and heartfelt messages surround a photo of Isaiah. At the same time, a photo of possiblevehicle used in the slayingwere released to the public in hopes of identifying the suspects. 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. They were shot to death in May of 2020 in the parking lot at Golden West High School. 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. 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. Postal Service, according to investigators. 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. The team also seized approximately20pounds of cocaine from suspects involved in the trafficking. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. A press release from the Visalia Police Department. "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. Jose Carlos Hernandez Pena, 19, Isaiah Rule, 18, and Blake Madeiros, 19, were found dead in the WebVisalia police turns to community for help with info after triple homicide. The unit provides statewide enforcement for combating violent career criminals, gangs, and organized crime groups, along with intrastate drug traffickers. All Rights Reserved. The 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. VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- Authorities have announced the arrests of three men in connection with a triple homicide that occurred in May 2020 in Visalia. DOJ partnered with local law enforcement in Texas, the U.S. VISALIA Just a few weeks after 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. In October, detectivesapplied for a $50,000 reward through the State of California Governors Office to help solve the case. 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. On Dec. 20, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a reward for information that helped lead to an arrest in the triple homicide. 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. 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. Heannounced the details of Operation Trailblazer and the subsequent arrests of the men accused of killing JoseHernandez-Pea, 19;Isaiah Rule, 18;andBlake Medeiros, 19. RELATED: 3 men arrested in connection to 2020 triple homicide in Visalia. 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. "I don't know how to go on without him. The day that an arrest is made in a murder investigation, marks the beginning of a path to justice for grieving families. Rule, along with 19-year-old Blake Mederios and 19-year-old Jose Pena, was gunned down in the parking lot of Golden West High School back in May. After a four-month investigation, participating law enforcement agencies say they prevented at least fiveviolent crimes and seized 56 firearms from Sureo gang members. Detectives continued to work leads and analyze data collected during the investigation. DOJs Special Operations Unit is a collaborative investigative effort between DOJ and the California Highway Patrol. Some people are upset at the way iPhones charge. 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. They found two men dead in a vehicle and another nearby in the 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. 3 men arrested in connection to 2020 triple homicide in Visalia. Surveillance video from the school showed a suspect vehicle driving up to the After receiving The firearms were then sold to local gang members or smuggled into Mexico in exchange for morenarcotics. District Attorney Tim Ward added that while it took time to get to Thursday's announcement, prosecutors will work hard to ensure closure follows. He was surrounded by local, stateand federal law enforcement. This investigation utilized law enforcement departments from the local, state and federal level and resulted The weapons and drugs were being shipped through the U.S. 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. To learn more about the Voice, click here. 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. "It is not going to fix it, but it will still give us some answers that we are looking for.". FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- "It's hard; I don't know how to accept it," says mother of 18-year-old Isaiah Rule. All three of the suspects are Sureo street gang members or associates. The investigation also uncovered a drug and firearm trafficking ring run by members and associates of the Sureos. Once investigators learned of this criminal enterprise, they notified U.S. Previous coverage:DAcalls on lawmakers to bring justice to Operation Trailblazer suspects. 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. During the investigation, law enforcement agents identified Sureo gang members as suspects in the murders. FOX26. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. 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. (Los Angeles Times) Late Tuesday night, police officers in Visalia, a San Law enforcement agents also seized24 firearmsduring the operation. "I don't know any mother who can accept this.". VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- A year later, and the pain Nikkole Rule Balderama of Visalia feels over the loss of her son, 18-year-old Isaiah Rule, still hurts as much as the day she lost him. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. 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. 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. "I sit there waiting for him walking through the door," she said. The investigation also uncovered a drug and firearm trafficking ring run by members and associates of the Sureos. We need to be their voice. 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. WebThe investigation into a triple homicide in Visalia in May has led to the seizure of drugs, guns, money, and more. Green was 31 years old and an 11-year veteran of the Exeter Police Department. Police believe the victims came to the parking lot in the same car, but it's unclear what led up to the gunfire. "Our hope is that today's operation can begin to bring some justice to these families," Salazar said. Arrests in California triple homicide lead to criminal enterprise bust. 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When officers arrived, they found Jose Pena, Black Medeiros and Isaiah Rule shot to death. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. If we can suffocate their funding sources, we can cripple their operations. His mother set up the memorial outside her home in Visalia in hopes that those driving by won't forget that she and two other families are still searching for answers. WebPhoto provided by the Visalia Police Department The shooting occurred on May 5, 2020, at Golden West High School in Visalia where Jose Hernandez-Pea, 19, Isaiah Rule, 18, "And that they can begin to heal knowing that those who are responsible for this crime are in custody where they belong.". The Visalia Police Department investigation into an unsolved triple homicide was given a boost by Gov. Staff, login here. WebOn May 5, 2020, officers responded to a shooting in the parking lot of Golden West High School 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. WebSuspect in Visalia triple homicide pleads not guilty to murder charges. VISALIA The reward to catch those who gunned down three teens in the Golden West parking lot last year is now $61,000 thanks to the governor. 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. Anyone with information on the shooting or the two vehicles is asked to call 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 obtained from drug trafficking organizations in Mexico. 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