Arrests made in murder attempt

SPRINGVILLE — The quiet of a popular camping area above Springville was shattered by gunfire over the Labor Day weekend in what authorities believe is a gang-related attempted murder.

Three adults and a juvenile were in jail Monday after they allegedly tried to kill someone Sunday afternoon, raced down Highway 190 and then fled from their crashed vehicle at the end of a police chase.

The suspects in the case were identified as Emmanual Martin Gutierrez, 22, Jorge Armando Gutierrez, 21, Anthony Oley Robinson, 18, and a 15-year-old boy, all from the Porterville area.

Authorities did not release any information Monday about the alleged gang connection to the shooting.

The incident began when Freddie Pedraza, 18, of Porterville, and a 15-year-old girl were in the parking lot area of the Lower Coffee Camp recreational area in Springville about 4 p.m. Sunday. They were allegedly approached by four unknown Hispanic males.

The victims said one of the suspects pulled a small-caliber firearm and fired several rounds at them before fleeing in a vehicle, according to a news release issued Monday by the Tulare County SheriffÂ’s Department.

Pedraza was struck in the arm and abdomen area. The 15-year-old girl was struck once in the arm. They were treated at Sierra View District Hospital for injuries authorities report were not life threatening.

Officers from the U.S. Forest Service arrived on the scene first. The victims gave a description of the suspects and their vehicle — a 1997 Chrysler Sebring — to officers, who relayed the information to the Sheriff’s Department, which had deputies en route to the area.

A responding deputy saw the suspects and their vehicle, reportedly driven by Emmanuel Gutierrez, heading west on Highway 190 from the scene of the shooting, and tried unsuccessfully to stop the car.

Gutierrez raced away from authorities, the SheriffÂ’s Department reports, beginning a high-speed chase that ended with the suspects crashing their car near Porterville.

During the chase, Gutierrez was driving “at a minimum of 80 mph and passing vehicles in an unsafe manner” while being pursued by authorities, the California Highway Patrol said.

As Gutierrez approached the intersection of Highway 190 and Road 284, he tried to make a right-hand turn onto northbound Road 284, but was unable to complete the turn because of the speed he was driving, CHP said.

The Sebring left the roadway and hit a barbed wire fence, coming to rest on its wheels, facing in a southerly direction.

Gutierrez and his three passengers reportedly fled the scene on foot.

Officers from the CHP and the Sheriff’s Department established a perimeter to secure the area. Officers and a Sheriff’s Department K-9 officer searched the area and found all four suspects “after a lengthy search,” authorities said.

All four suspects were taken into custody on suspicion of attempted murder with gang allegations, the SheriffÂ’s Department said.

Detectives from the SheriffÂ’s DepartmentÂ’s Gang Violence Suppression Unit responded to the crash scene and reportedly found a firearm linked to the case.

Contact Glen Faison at 784-5000, Ext. 1040, or gfaison@portervillerecorder.com.