Police believe two suspects fatally shot six people, including a teenage mother and her baby, at a home in Central California on Monday. According to authorities, the suspects remain at large.
The Tulare County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that deputies responded to the scene around 3:30 am following reports of multiple shots being fired at the home in Goshen, a semi-rural community just east of Visalia with a population of about 3,000.
"Actually, the report was that an active shooter was in the area because of the number of shots that were being fired," Sheriff Mike Boudreaux told reporters.
According to the Associated Press, Boudreaux noted that Deputies found two deceased victims in the street and a third person shot dead in the doorway of the residence. Three more victims were found dead inside the home, including one man who was still alive but later died at a hospital.
"We also believe this was not a random act of violence. We believe this was a targeted family," he said.
At least two suspects remain at large in what seems to be a gang-related incident. Last week, the sheriff's office carried out a narcotics-related search warrant at the residence, Boudreaux noted.
Among those killed were 16-year-old Alissa Parraz and her 6-month-old baby, Nycholas Nolan Parraz. Both victims were shot multiple times in the head. The girl and her baby were living with her father's family in Goshen.
"I can't wrap my head around what kind of monster would do this," the girl's grandfather Samuel Pina told The Associated Press.
He added that Parraz's father's uncle, her father's cousin, her great-grandmother and grandmother were also killed in Monday's shooting.
Pina also shared that the family is shocked.
"It comes in big waves," he said.
During a press conference, Boudreaux shared that the two shooters and possible third suspect fled the scene in a vehicle. While he didn't confirm that the killings were carried out by cartel members, Boudreaux shared that the manner in which the victims were murdered was similar to past cartel executions.
A $10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest of the suspects.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/z1b
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
