Location: Hwy 99 in Earlimart

Incident Date: 8/23/19

City: Earlimart

Posted by: Media Relations

Deputies Track Down Earlimart Man Shooting AR-15 Near Schools, Prompting Lockdowns

Around 7:15 a.m. on 8/23/19, Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Deputies received reports of a man walking down an alley and shooting a gun in the 100 Block of West Washington Avenue in Earlimart.

While Deputies were searching for the man, nearby schools Earlimart Elementary School, Earlimart Middle School, Alila Intermediate School and Earlimart Community Day School were placed on lockdown for a brief time.

Deputies were able to find the man walking along the east side of Highway 99 near the Washington Bridge. 

The man was carrying an AR-15 with a 30-round magazine. One Deputy held the suspect, 42-year-old Noe Medrano, at gunpoint until another Deputy showed up and they were able to detain him. Deputies also checked the area to make sure no one had been injured by gunfire.

Medrano was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Adult Pre-Trial Facility. 

He faces charges of Negligent Discharge of a firearm, Receiving Stolen Property, Carrying a Loaded Firearm in a Public Place, Being Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance While Armed and Being in Possession of an Assault Weapon.
 
Anyone with more information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at 1-800-808-0488 or anonymously at tcso@tipnow.com or by text or voicemail at 559-725-4194