Location: 31800 block of Road 138 Visalia,
Incident Date: 08-30-17
Incident Time: 2121
Case Number: 17-10565
Posted by: Dispatch
*********************UPDATE*****************************************
Suspect/decedent: Anthony Moreno, 48, aka Tony Moreno
Victims/decendents: Denise Moreno, 49, Tony Moreno's wife;
Victor Ramirez, 28, Denise Moreno's son, step son to Tony Moreno
*******************Original Press Release******************************
On Wednesday, 8-30-17 at about 8:21 p.m., Deputies from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a residence in the 31800 block of Road 138, in Visalia, for an assault in progress. As Deputies were responding to the scene, there was an updated report from a minor resident of threats made by a 48-year-old undisclosed male resident suspect, and gunshots had been fired from the same individual.
As Deputies arrived on scene, they were able to make contact with multiple family members and get them to safety. Patrol quickly learned the 48-year-old male resident suspect was somewhere within the residence with a firearm and possibly barricaded, along with a 28-year-old male victim, 49-year-old female victim and a 4-year-old male juvenile. Preliminary information was that the occupants of the residence were all related in some fashion.
Shortly thereafter, personnel from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office S.W.A.T. & Hostage Negotiations Team, along with Violent Crimes Detectives arrived on scene to assume the investigation. The Sheriff’s UAV was also deployed to assist with the safety and security of the immediate scene, personnel and surrounding residences in the neighborhood.
Negotiations were repeatedly made to no avail, at which time SWAT personnel began to methodically and deliberately clear the interior of the residence. The 4 year old male juvenile was rescued within the residence and physically unharmed. He was subsequently reunited with his mother. As the remainder of the residence was searched, the 48 year old male suspect was found deceased, as well as the 49 year old female and 28 year old male. They all appeared to have suffered life-ending gunshot wounds, and in the early stages of this investigation, it appears the suspect had shot and killed the two adults and then himself. Detectives are still determining the motive behind this tragedy and autopsies will be performed to learn the exact causes of death.
Detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit and Cyber & Forensic Investigations Unit will be on scene investigating this into the early morning hours.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department at (559)733-6218 or send anonymous information by sending a text or email to TCSO@tipnow.com or call (559) 725-4194.