Porterville man shot and killed at gathering

A Porterville man was shot and killed early Saturday at a late-night gathering here in town.

The shooting appears to be gang related. No arrests have been made.

Porterville police officers were dispatched at 12:01 a.m. to investigate a shooting in the 1000 block of West Grand Avenue. There they found Samuel Guzman, 20, on the ground being given first aid.

The Porterville Fire Department was dispatched at 12:04 a.m. to 1089 W. Grand Ave. on an emergency medical services call.

Guzman had been shot once with an unknown type of firearm, police report. He was taken by ambulance to Sierra View District Hospital where he dies as a result of his injuries.

Detectives were called to the crime scene and took over the investigation. Investigators reportedly learned the victim had been in the front yard of a home at a social gathering.

Two unknown male suspects approached the residence and yelled gang slurs at the party goers, police report. One of the suspects then fired several rounds into the crowd, striking Samuel Guzman in the head.

The suspects then fled the area eastbound on Grand Avenue.

The case is under investigation by the Porterville Police Department’s Investigations Division. Anyone with information in asked to call

Detective Marcial Morales or Sgt. Jake Castellow, 782-7400 or 782-7419.

-- Contact Anita Stackhouse-Hite at 784-5000. Ext. 1043, or astackhouse-hite@portervillerecorder.com.