September 30, 2023 - Tulare County Sheriff's Office officials report that just before 8:00 p.m. on April 28, 2023, TCSO Deputies were called to the Valero Gas Station in Orosi for a shooting. The victim told Deputies, a man in all black clothing, wearing a ski mask, ran up to him and shot him.

During the investigation, TAGNET Detectives identified 21-year-old Andres Castillo and 19-year-old Jose Armas as the suspects. On April 29, 2023, Castillo was found and arrested for attempted murder. However, Armas ran away from the area and had been on the run since.

On September 16, 2023, Deputies were called to a report of shots-fired in Ivanhoe. Deputies arrived and found the victim, a dropout gang member, with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to a local hospital and later released.

Detectives identified the suspect vehicle in the Ivanhoe shooting as being taken during an armed carjacking in Porterville just prior to the shooting. The vehicle was later found, and Detectives tracked down surveillance video showing Jose Armas inside of the car. The gun used in the Ivanhoe shooting was also found in the vehicle.

On September 27, 2023, Detectives arrested Armas at a home in the 12800 block of Avenue 412 in Orosi. Detectives also found an AR-15-style assault rifle at the home. Armas was arrested on two counts of attempted murder and gang enhancement.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective O. Sanchez and Detective M. Morales with the Tulare County Sheriff's Office at (559) 733-6218. Or, they can remain anonymous by calling or texting (559) 725-4194 or through email at tcso@tipnow.com.

Source & photos: Tulare County Sheriff's Office