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. "We want to know what happened to our boys," said Williams. 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. 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. Isaiah Rule, along with 19-year-old Blake Mederios and 19-year-old Jose Pena, were gunned down in the 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. We need to speak up for these boys.". The teenagers were found dead from gunshot wounds inside of a vehicle near the high school. Email: OnYourSide@cbsfresno.com. Anyone with information on the shooting or the two vehicles is asked to call the Visalia Police Department. 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. Now, nearly three months since the homicide, Visalia police are turning to the community for help with information. 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. "I don't know how to go on without him. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. The investigation also uncovered a drug and firearm trafficking ring run by members and associates of the Sureos. Phone: 559-761-0383 Two of the victims were found in a car. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- "It's hard; I don't know how to accept it," says mother of 18-year-old Isaiah Rule. Violent Crimes Detectives with the Visalia Police Department have worked the case tirelessly since that night. 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. Previous coverage:DAcalls on lawmakers to bring justice to Operation Trailblazer suspects. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. My family is going to keep fighting. 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. Visalia Police DepartmentVisalia police are looking for these vehicles thought to be linked to an unsolved triple homicide. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. Molina is believed to have shot and killed the victims, and was charged with the special allegation that he intentionally discharged a firearm, which caused death. "Information they may not think is relevant, if they can still please reach out to the Visalia PD and report any info they have.". 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Investigators say they learned that area gang members and associates were bringing guns from Texas and paying for the weapons with drugs including meth and cocaine obtained from Mexican traffickers. 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, 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. The third was just a short distance away. Police say all three suspects are known gang members. Your email address will not be published. The team also seized approximately20pounds of cocaine from suspects involved in the trafficking. 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. VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- Authorities have announced the arrests of three men in connection with a triple homicide that occurred in May 2020 in Visalia. WebSuspect in Visalia triple homicide pleads not guilty to murder charges. Additionally, arrests will also be made by law enforcement agencies in Oregon and Texas in connection with this investigation. The suspects are known Sureo, southern, gang members or associates, Salazar said. 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. Anyone with information is asked to call the Visalia Police Department and you can remain anonymous. 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. Twenty-seven Sureo gang members were arrested, including the three Visalia homicide suspects. Once officers arrived, they located a solo vehicle in the parking lot. Law enforcement agents also seized24 firearmsduring the operation. The day that an arrest is made in a murder investigation, marks the beginning of a path to justice for grieving families. On May 5, 2020, Visalia police were called to Golden West High School for shots fired in the area. They found two men dead in a vehicle and another nearby in the On Dec. 20, Gov. All rights reserved. Valley Crime Stoppers and the victim's families are offering a $9,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects. To learn more about the Voice, click here. According to detectives, an investigation into a 2020 shooting in Visalia that killed three teenagers led to the discovery of a criminal enterprise operating across state lines and into the country of Mexico.. Today at 3:54 PM. Gavin Newsom. 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. Additional arrests are expected to be made by law enforcement agencies in Oregon and Texas in connection with this investigation. After receiving 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. The unit provides statewide enforcement for combating violent career criminals, gangs, and organized crime groups, along with intrastate drug traffickers. Triple Homicide Update Press Release Revision Date: 10/4/2021 (116.3 KB) More Info: 21-080714 Att. They were shot to death in May of 2020 in the parking lot at Golden West High School. 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. Mark Aceves,20;Cesar Lopez, 19;and Abraham Molina, 20, were arrested and charged inthe May 2020 triple homicide. 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. "My son said, 'Mom, I'm going to go get tacos and I'll be right back' and I'm waiting for him to walk through that door. 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. Thank you to the law enforcement officers who risked their safety to investigate and arrest these dangerous suspects. CSLEA President Alan Barcelona. They're often identified by wearing blue bandanas, clothes and jewelry and the number 13. 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Surveillance video from the school showed a suspect vehicle driving up to the 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. 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. Visalia Police Department Violent Crimes Detectives, Special Enforcement Unit Officers, and Crime Scene Investigators were called out to assist in the investigation. Postal Service. "Whatever happens in the dark comes to light," Williams said. "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. 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. She says not having any answers is the hardest part. Those with information are asked to contact the Visalia Police Department at (559) 713-4234. 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. They interviewed numerous witnesses, collected evidence, and authored search warrants in an attempt to piece together what happened that May night. Copyright 2023 KFSN-TV. "I'm going to keep fighting. Throughout 2020 and 2021,detectives forged ahead in theirinvestigation. 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. We need to be their voice. 2023 www.visaliatimesdelta.com. 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. Once officers arrived, they located a solo vehicle in the parking lot. "Our hope is that today's operation can begin to bring some justice to these families," Salazar said. During the investigation, law enforcement agents identified Sureo gang members as suspects in the murders. I have three other kids, so I have to wake up, but you just don't want to wake up.". All Rights Reserved. After a four-month investigation, participating law enforcement agencies say they prevented at least fiveviolent crimes and seized 56 firearms from Sureo gang members. 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. 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. Coping with his loss is a daily struggle. 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. In December of 2021, the Governor approved the reward. 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