On January 20, 2006 during daylight, Salvador Dejesus, who was a 19-year-old Sureno gang member of Farmersville, was walking the streets of Visalia carrying a stolen, loaded .44 magnum revolver. Dejesus saw the victim, who was a 13-year-old boy, walking home in the victim’s cul-de-sac. The victim was alone and wearing a red shirt, which represented the color of Dejesus’ rival gang: the Nortenos. Dejesus walked up to the victim and shot the victim once. The victim fell to the ground, and then Dejesus stepped forward and shot the victim again. Dejesus fled the crime scene, but was caught moments later by officers of Visalia Police Department. The victim lived, but suffered gunshot wounds to his arms and chest.

The jury trial was held in March 2007. The jury found Dejesus guilty of mayhem, along with the gun and gang special allegations. On April 25, 2007, Judge Ferguson sentenced Dejesus to a term of 39 years to life in state prison.

Detective Randy Lentzner of Visalia Police Department was the investigating officer, Officer Luma Fahoum of Visalia Police Department was the gang expert, and Deputy District Attorney Todd Zocchi was the prosecutor.

Contact person: Assistant District Attorney, Don Gallian 733-6411