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Two arrested in Sunday's fatal shooting
Third suspect being sought
Porterville police detectives arrested two people Tuesday wanted in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Salvador Garcia of Porterville Sunday night.
A third person is being sought. They have not been identified, however, detectives are continuing to follow developing leads.
Taken into custody on suspicion of homicide, criminal possession of a firearm, and participation in a criminal street gang was 29-year-old Federico “Freddie” Mejia of Porterville.
His girlfriend, Adriana Jaimez, 29, also of Porterville, was arrested on suspicion of being an accessory to murder and participation in a criminal street gang.
Garcia was fatally shot as he sat in a vehicle in front of a gas station/convenience store at 699 S. Plano St. at 11:49 p.m. Sunday.
Police said the teen was sitting in a car in the parking lot waiting for a friend who was inside the store. He was approached by two males, one of whom pulled out a handgun and fired one shot, striking the 19-year-old in the chest.
Garcia was driven to Sierra View District Hospital by friends where he died from the single gunshot wound.
In a press release issued late Tuesday afternoon, police said that after serving multiple search warrants in response to information obtained in the case, detectives were able to determine that Mejia was the person who shot Garcia.
Detectives said the third suspect approached Garcia with Mejia and assaulted him just prior to the victim being shot.
Police said Jaimez was at the scene and drove Mejia and the third suspect away after Mejia shot the victim.
Police said Monday there was no indication the victim was involved in any gang activity, but the suspects were believed to be gang members.
This was Porterville’s first homicide of the year.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with any information regarding this case is asked to contact Det. Sergeant Ron Moore or Det. Harvey Dominguez at 782-7400.
