3 dead after shooting in parking lot at Golden West High School in Visalia

Three people were found shot to death in the parking lot of Golden West High School overnight, police say.

Thursday, May 7, 2020
3 dead after shooting in parking lot at Golden West High School in Visalia
3 dead after shooting in parking lot at Golden West High School in Visalia

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- Hours after a shooting that left three men dead in the parking lot of Golden West High School, Lori Ramos stopped by the campus.

She lives just down the street.

"I don't know them, I don't know what happened," Ramos said. "But like I said my mother's heart-(it) doesn't matter how old they are or who they are, they have a mom."

At around 11:15 on Tuesday night, police responded to reports of shots fired at the school parking lot.

There they found three men dead of gunshot wounds: 19-year-old's Jose Pena and Blake Medeiros, and 18-year-old Isaiah Rule.

Police believe the victims came to the parking lot in the same car, but it's unclear what led up to the shooting.

"It's still too early to speculate any type of motive," Sgt. Celeste Sanchez said. "The detectives are still aggressively working this case, looking at every angle possible."

Police say the young men are not current students of Visalia Unified School District.

By Wednesday morning, there was a small memorial at the scene, consisting of candles, balloons, and flowers.

Ramos added a heart with some lipstick.

"I just wanted to come and do what I could with what I have," she said.

Police have not made any arrests.

"Visalia Unified School District is grateful to the Visalia Police Department for their swift and professional response and on-going diligence to protect our community," VUSD officials said on Wednesday.