Lindsay police release identity of shooting victim

LINDSAY — The man shot and killed Thursday in a residential area of Lindsay was from Porterville.

Authorities confirmed today that Jose Pimentel, 24, of Porterville, was the victim in Thursday afternoon's shooting at 686 N. Homassel Ave., on the southeast corner of Homassel and Tulare Road.

Police were dispatched there at 2:14 p.m. after receiving reports of a man with a gun. At the scene, they found a young man, later identified as Pimentel, dead in the backyard. Police said he had been shot multiple times.

Subsequent investigation involved officers from a number of nearby communities, which have put a task force in place to better handle major crimes when they occur in any of the communities involved.

Police said Thursday the victim did not live at the residence. Police also said the residents of the home were there at the time of the shooting.

The suspect is described as an Hispanic male, as young as 18 but possibly in his 20s, 5 feet 6 inches or 5 feet 7 inches tall, and was last seen wearing a white tank top-type T-shirt and dark jeans. He was last seen heading down Warmer Court near Hermosa Street.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Sgt. Chris Hughes of the Lindsay Department of Public Safety, 562-2511 or (800) 808-0488. Callers can remain anonymous.

This is the third homicide of the year in Lindsay. Two other homicides have occurred in orchards near Lindsay and are being investigated by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department.

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