Jesus Magdaleno and Felix Cruz were known as "Jesse" and "Brandon" by friends and family. Saturday loved ones held a memorial ride from Visalia to Three Rivers.
Many came out in honor of Jesse Magdaleno and his service in law enforcement. Just as many showed up to remember Brandon Cruz, who was very well liked by the community. Organizers started planning the event on Tuesday and were very surprised and pleased by the turnout.
The memorial started with hundreds of engines thundering. Bikers and bike clubs from all over the area gathered, and riders were anxious to ride and make some noise for the two men who died.
"It was actually my husband's idea, Brandon was his "dude" as he liked to call him, and eh just really wanted to do something special for his friend, and Jesse too and what better way than to throw a memorial ride for him," Sarah Mitchel, an event Organizer said.
On August 18 the two men were wrapping up Magdaleno's bachelor party in Las Vegas. The men were loading luggage onto Magdaleno's truck bed outside the Flamingo Hotel when police say the suspect, James Montgomery, jumped into the front of the truck and took off.
Magdaleno and Cruz rode on the truck bed for several miles before Montgomery ran a red light and crashed. Magdaleno and Cruz were both thrown off the truck during the crash. Montgomery is in custody facing multiple charges including murder.
"Brandon was a super guy, super youngster with a great attitude and treated everybody with a smile on his face. I loved that guy, I miss him dearly," Patrick Lozano with the Knights Cavalry Motorcycle Club said.
The law enforcement community came to show their support for Magdaleno, a man many have come to define by his devotion to his uniform.
"I didn't know him but we're out here supporting him we all feel the loss," Rowdy Kyle, a biker said.
"The CHP officer here was a great marine he was a good training officer for the CHP, had a great attitude and was going places with the Highway Patrol," Lozano said.
The bikers rode out united in sound and cause, a memorial ride and cruise for the two men missed by family, friends and their community.
"It's just amazing how many people came out to show their love," Mitchel said.
Jesse Magdaleno's funeral will be held Tuesday in Visalia. It is open to the public, Brandon Cruz's funeral will be held on Thursday.
