Violent Weekend in Central Valley
It was a violent weekend in the Central Valley that left three people dead and others scared for their lives.
Leonardo Nacoa
Three people were killed in separate incidents over the weekend. Around 10:30 p.m. on Friday, deputies with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in Exeter for reports of a gunshot wound victim. When they arrived on the scene, deputies found a party breaking up and located the victim, Omar Vargas of Farmersville, suffering from gunshot wounds. By the time paramedics responded to the scene, Vargas was pronounced dead. The case remains under investigation.
Early Saturday, around 5:30 a.m., Fresno police responded to the scene of a shooting near Highway 41 and Shields Avenue. The victim, a 16-year-old male, was taken to Community Regional Medical Center, where he died from his wounds. Police say the shooting is likely gang-related.
In Porterville, 26-year-old Leonardo Nacoa allegedly shot his wife, 25-year-old Krystal Garcia Nacoa, early Sunday morning and then fled to Mexico. Detectives with the Porterville Police Department were able to convince the suspect to turn himself into authorities Sunday afternoon.
In addition to the three homicides, more violence took place in the Central Valley. A man in Fresno was arrested for attempted murder and domestic violence charges after he tried to burn his girlfriend on Sunday afternoon. Hongthae Yang allegedly was hitting his girlfriend near a car that was on fire near Huntington and Lind avenues. Police say Yang then tried to set his girlfriend on fire using a can of gasoline. The victim was able to put out the flames on her back by rolling on the ground.
In another incident, suspects suspect broke into a home in the area of Minnewawa and Butler avenues in Fresno Friday night, tied up a man inside the house and then stole some of his property. Deputies are still looking for the three suspects, who were wearing hooded sweatshirts and ran away after the crime.
On Monday around 4:30 a.m., a woman was found badly injured near Fugazzi’s Restaurant in downtown Visalia. Police say she was bludgeoned and possibly sexually assaulted. Authorities believe the attack happened sometime in the early hours of the morning, but are not sure how long it was between the attack and when she was found. They have detained at least one person for questioning, but have not released the person’s name.
Read More:
RecordOnline: Murder Suspect Surrenders in Calexico
SacBee: CA Police Convinces Fleeing Suspect to Surrender
