BCSO: 1 dead in suspected taxi robbery

CHICO » The Butte County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation in what is believed by law enforcement to be a homicide off of Chico River Road.

According to a series of log reports, a call came in at around 3:55 a.m. Sunday of a robbery involving a firearm near Chico River Road and Lone Pine Avenue.

A taxi driver called and reported he had wrestled a gun from two men who had struck him with the gun. He told dispatchers they had threatened to shoot him as he was dropping them off in the area. He said he was giving them a ride when one of them pulled out a gun and demanded he pull over.

A press release issued Monday by the Sheriff’s Office said calls were coming in of a prowler in the area as well. Upon arrival, the taxi driver was found injured and subsequently transported to the hospital. Further investigation turned up a man dead in the roadway, identified as Victor Hernandez, 28, of Chico.

The release said a second man, identified by police as Jose Huerta, 22, of Willows, was found in a residential backyard.

In a summary provided by the Sheriff’s Office, the agency believes the driver picked Hernandez and Huerta up and drove them outside of Chico when Hernandez pulled out the handgun and fired multiple shots while still inside the vehicle.

Hernandez and Huerta allegedly attacked the driver before getting out of the vehicle while it was still moving, injuring Hernandez, the release said.

According to the release, an autopsy will be conducted to find the cause of death.

Huerta was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon resulting in great bodily injury, violating his probation and burglary.

Information on the case is limited and more information will be shared as it is brought forth, the Sheriff’s Office said Monday.