Visalia man with 'several gunshot wounds' dies in city’s first homicide of 2022
Sheyanne N Romero
A man is dead — the first Visalia homicide of the year.
Violent crimes detectives are now tasked with finding the shooter.
Around 8 p.m. Monday, witnesses called 911 to report an assault with a deadly weapon in the 200 block of East Houston Avenue. The area is just two blocks north of Lincoln Oval Park.
When officers arrived, they found Juan Carlos Viera suffering from "several gunshot wounds," Agent Henry Martinez said. Paramedics rushed the 40-year-old man to Kaweah Health Medical Center after CPR was given. Despite the efforts by emergency crews, the victim died, Martinez said.
Violent Crimes detectives were called to investigate the first Visalia homicide of 2022.
Houston, which runs east and west, was closed to traffic while detectives interviewed witnesses and marked evidence, including bullet casings littered around the crime scene. Detectives will use nearby surveillance video from several businesses to try and determine what led to the shooting and who pulled the trigger.
That part of Houston is near several neighborhoods to the north and south. Detectives spent Monday night knocking on doors and scouring for witnesses.
No arrests have been made and no description of the shooter was given by police.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Luis Berrocales at 713-4727. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact the department's anonymous tip line at 713-4738.
