***NEWS RELEASE UPDATE - ADDITIONAL ARREST MADE***
An arrest warrant for a 17 year old juvenile had been issued for attempted murder in this case. Detectives learned that suspect initially fled to Mexico, but was currently hiding out at the apartment in Bakersfield.
On Friday, 10/1/2010 at 1605 hours Detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit, Gang Crimes Unit and Narcotics Unit served a search warrant and the arrest warrant with the assistance of the Kern County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team at an apartment in the 1200 bock of E. Flower in Bakersfield. The suspect initially refused to come out of the apartment but after a short stand off, the suspect came out without further incident and was taken into custody. During a search of the apartment, gang indicia was located along with evidence related to the incident.
During this investigation, evidence also linked the suspect to two armed robberies that occurred in the Pixley and Terra Bella areas. The first armed robbery occurred on May 24th, 2010. In that case an employee at a recycling center, Sergio Coria, 42, out of Porterville, had been robbed at gunpoint, had been duct taped and kidnaped. He was left in a field several miles east of Pixley. The victims vehicle was stolen along with an undermined amount of cash and a cell phone. The victim was not injured in that case.
Evidence also linked the 17 year old suspect to an armed robbery that occurred at the Blanca Market on 6/24/10 in the 19100 block of Ave 96 in Terra Bella. In that case several suspects entered the market with handguns and duct taped employees. None of the victims were injured during this incident. The suspects stole an undetermined amount of cash along with several other items from the store.
The juvenile suspect was booked into the Tulare County Juvenile Detention Facility on the attempted murder warrant and on the above listed charges. There warrant issued was a "No Bail" warrant.
PREVIOUS ATTEMPTED MURDER NEWS RELEASE INFORMATION:
As previously reported, on 7/01/2010 at 1850 hours, deputies from the Pixely substation responded to a call of shots fired at Church and Sutter, and 1 block west at State and Sutter. Deputies arrived and found three gun shot wound victims, listed above, on scene. Victim #1 was air lifted to an area hospital for the above listed injuries. He underwent surgery at the time. Victims 2 and 3 were transported by ambulance to another area hospital for non life threatening injuries. Both were treated and released
Detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit responded to investigate. During the investigation it was discovered that victims 1 and 3 were walking in the area of Church and Sutter when the suspects arrived in a vehicle and fired at the victims. As the suspects were leaving they fired at Victim #2 at State and Sutter.
On 07/13/2010, detectives from the Violent Crimes Investigations Unit and the South County Gang Unit served two search warrants in the 1800 block of West Sierra in Earlimart. There, suspect Robert Rivera, 20 years old, was arrested at his residence. The vehicle used in the crime was located and taken as evidence, along with gang indicia.
The case remains under investigation at this time. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jose Torres or Sgt. Gary Hunt at the Tulare County Sheriff's Department Violent Crimes Unit at 559-733-6218 or 1-800-808-0488.
