Terra Bella gang members convicted of murder
Late in the afternoon of August 13 in Department 17 of the Tulare County Superior Court, South County Justice Center, a jury convicted Isidro Gomez Reyes, age 25, and Alfred Gomez, age 22, of murder. Each man was found guilty of first-degree murder and attempted murder with special allegations that the crime was committed for the benefit of a street gang and discharge of a firearm causing death.
Around midday on February 21, 2016, the two male victims were walking along Road 256 on the outskirts of Terra Bella when they saw a Toyota Sedan drive past them twice. As the men continued on Avenue 92, the car pulled up behind them and Gomez exited the vehicle holding a 12-gauge shotgun. Gomez said “What’s up, homies?” and opened fire, striking one man in the head while the other man fled into an orange grove.
Through investigation that same day, Tulare County Sheriff’s deputies learned that the surviving victim knew Reyes and was able to identify him as the driver of the car. Gomez was contacted leaving Reyes’ home later that day in the suspected vehicle and was identified as the shooter by the surviving victim. Deputies then executed a search warrant on Reyes’ home where they found identical ammunition to that used in the shooting. Reyes was then taken into custody.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 13, in Superior Court where each man faces up to 90 years-to-life in prison.
The case was prosecuted Deputy District Attorney Candice Moore of the Major Crimes Division and was investigated by Sergeant Bryan Clower of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.