FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – It was called “A Reign of Terror” by Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, after a series of crimes left a wake of death and destruction in the South Valley over two days.
“We have officers that could have been seriously injured or killed,” said Sheriff Boudreaux, “We also have the citizens of Tulare County that were put in harm’s way.”
Two of his Tulare County deputies were shot at Monday morning, while trying to stop 36-year-old Gustavo Garcia, who started out the whole crime spree by shooting a farm worker in Exeter on Sunday, then robbing a convenience store, driving away in a silver Honda Pilot.
“Mr. Garcia fired two rounds in the direction of the employees, as well as customers in the store, and left the scene,” said Exeter Police Chief John Hall. “Just prior to that, a second subject that was in the vehicle was determined to have entered the business and appears to have been looking around the business, possibly in conjunction with Mr. Garcia’s efforts.”
Exeter Police Chief John Hall says officers are looking for that person of interest (seen in photo, above).
The crime spree continued in Visalia, where 51-year-old Rocky Hall Jones was shot dead at a gas station.
Shots were fired at a house in Visalia – the home where Visalia Police Chief Jasons Salazar said Garcia’s ex-girlfriend lived with her children.
Tulare’s Interim Police Chief Matt Machado says a woman at a Motel 6 in Visalia was lucky.
“He had followed her to her parking spot where he got out of the car and for unbeknownst reasons began firing at her vehicle – striking her in the arm and torso area,” said Captain Machado.
It all ended just before 7:00 am Monday morning when Sheriff Boudreaux said Garcia carjacked a vehicle from three farm workers, and died in a crash in Porterville.
The California Highway Patrol said Garcia was driving 100 mph the wrong way on the 165 into Porterville, crashing into cars until he was thrown from the vehicle and killed. Garcia hit a series of cars on the way, one person was taken with critical injuries to Fresno, while three other drivers are in serious condition in Porterville.
There are now up to 12 cases now being investigated.
Visalia PD is investigating the Tulare County Sheriff’s Officer Involved Shooting that took place when deputies opened fire on Garcia at Road 140 and Avenue 256, when his car became disabled. That’s when he shot back at the deputies, before carjacking a vehicle from the farm workers in an orchard.
During Monday’s press conference in Tulare County, Sheriff Mike Boudreaux detailed Garcia’s long history of crime.
“I show that in 2002, he had an assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy case out of Reedley, and 2002, he had armed robbery and possession of a firearm out of Fresno County where he served 2 years in prison,” said Sheriff Boudreaux, who continued,” in 2003, he had vandalism and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and possession of a firearm. In 2004, he had some type of INS hold.”
Sheriff Boudreaux said the motive may have been a relationship that ended, and Garcia was distraught.
He said they hope to gain more clues from the autopsy.
“The suspect’s life ended in the traffic accident but we can say that his reign of terror is over,” Sheriff Boudreaux said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims.”
NOW: @TulareSheriff releasing the body cam footage from yesterday’s officer involved shooting during the “reign of terror” in Tulare County. More: https://t.co/HH3Oij4qi1 pic.twitter.com/G53YZhEny5
— KMJNOW (@KMJNOW) December 18, 2018
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
