Two suspects charged in home invasion now face murder charges

OROSI, Calif. (KFSN) -- Rolando Magana and Francisco Padilla are accused of breaking into a home with children inside, in a crime that left their friend dead and them charged with his murder.

Tulare County sheriffs deputies testified Thursday about the terrifying moments after a 22-year-old man heard two people breaking into his home through a bathroom window. "He sees an unknown male subject with a gun and that man was pointing a gun at his little brother who was laying on the floor," said Deputy Rodney Klassen of the Tulare County Sheriffs Office.

The victim was at home with his four younger siblings, who were 18, 11 and 8 years old at the time. It was early morning and their parents were already at work for the day. Deputy Aaron Buckmaster described the gruesome scene as he walked up to the home that morning. "The first thing I noticed was a dead body lying on the driveway."

Deputy Buckmaster said as he got to the house and he saw numerous shell casings on the ground and a pathway of blood from the house to the body. Inside, the 22-year-old victim shaken, injured and covered in blood. "I found he had bullet entry and exit wounds to his arm his upper torso and side."

The Tulare County Sheriff's Office said in the process of the home invasion burglary the four suspects got into a gun battle with the victim who had quickly grabbed a gun from a bedroom closet when he saw the armed men in his family's house.

One of the suspects was killed but because he and his friends were committing a crime that lead to his death the suspects are charged with their friend's murder. Those remaining three suspects were seen on video surveillance heading to a Visalia emergency room.

Magana and Padilla will be back in court next month. Investigators are still looking for the third suspect in this case, Edgar Picazo, who also faces charges for murder and attempted murder.