Man shot to death outside local market

A man died Monday afternoon after he was gunned down in the presence of dozens of witnesses outside of Sunshine Market on South Main Street.

The Porterville Police Department has not released the identity of a man, who police said was shot in his upper torso.

Police said they first received a report of multiple shots fired at about 5 p.m.

According to police, numerous witnesses saw a dark primer-colored, sun-damaged, four-door sedan occupied by five Hispanic males drive into the marketÂ’s east parking lot at 227 S. Main St.

Police said the suspects stopped near the victim and engaged in a brief conversation, then shot the victim.

One of the suspects is described as a 16- to 18-year-old with a shaved head. He was wearing a gray T-shirt and was sitting in the front passenger seat of the car, according to police.

The driver is thought to be in his early to mid-20s with short hair. The other three are thought to be in their late teens to early 20s.

Employees next door at Rainbow House of Carpet said they heard the sound of several shots fired just before 5 p.m.

“We had customers inside and when they heard the shots they dropped to the floor,” Belinda Spann, a staff member at Rainbow Carpet, said. “They were looking through samples so they just ran out and left them on the floor.”

Spann said while she did not see the shooting, she estimated hearing about nine gun blasts.

“I can’t be sure but it sounded to me like it was two different weapons,” Spann said.

Spann and a second staff member said they heard the victim scream and then yell “I’m hurt, I’m hurt.”

By the time paramedics arrived, the man was silent and motionless on the cement sidewalk in front of the market.

Police taped off the parking lot and pump stations at Sunshine. While several officers examined physical evidence, about two dozen witnesses at the south end of the building waited to be interviewed.

A bullet hole was visible in the rear window of car parked in close proximity to the victim, leaving pieces of glass spread out over the pavement.

The victim was transported by ambulance to Sierra View District Hospital.

Police Chief Chuck McMillan said late Monday night that authorities were awaiting notification of the victimÂ’s next of kin before releasing the manÂ’s name.

This is PortervilleÂ’s second homicide of the year. The body of Clenon Ian Williams, 21, was found by passers-by on Aug. 2 in Porter Slough near the intersection of F Street and Oak Avenue.

Anyone with information about MondayÂ’s shooting is asked to call Detective Bryan Clower at 782-7412.

Recorder Managing Editor Jordan Righi contributed to this report. Contact Sarah Villicana at 784-5000, Ext. 1045 or svillicana@portervillerecorder.com.