PORTERVILLE, CA – On Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at approximately 8:37 PM, Officers with the Porterville Police Department were dispatched to the railroad bed near Zalud Park regarding a possible gunshot victim. Upon arrival in the area, Officers discovered a 54 year-old male who had sustained a gunshot wound. The victim later succumbed to his injuries.
Porterville Police Detectives assumed the investigation and through efforts over the following week, Detectives were able to identify 18 year-old Porterville resident Alexander Chavez as a suspect in the murder. Detectives obtained a pre-complaint warrant for Chavez’s arrest on a charge of murder.
On Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at approximately 4:00 PM, Detectives spotted Chavez in the 400 Block of West Morton Avenue and apprehended him without incident. Chavez was later booked at the South County Detention Facility, where he is being held without bail. This case has been submitted to the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office.
This investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Corporal Vargas or Detective Stark at (559) 782-7400.