A young mother was trying to flee the scene of a horrific massacre with her 10-month-old boy when a gunman stood over them and “fired shots into their heads,” California police officers have revealed.
Alissa Parraz, 17, was found dead Monday in a ditch still cradling her baby Nycholas in Goshen, a small farming town about 220 miles southeast of San Francisco, near the home where four of her family members were also killed became.
California police are now offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of two gunmen they believe may be part of a gang or cartel.
At a news conference, Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said the massacre was a deliberate attack on the family. “None of this was an accident. It was intentional, premeditated and terrible,” he said.
Alissa Parraz, 17, was found dead Monday in a ditch still cradling her baby Nycholas in Goshen, a small farming town about 220 miles southeast of San Francisco, near the home where four of her family members were also killed became
Detectives say Alissa was trying to flee from the gunmen as she was chased down the street with her young son and shot repeatedly in the head
Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux told reporters the shootings were targeted and likely linked to gangs or drug cartels. Law enforcement officials have announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the gunmen
Investigators believe a gang or drug cartel has targeted the family. MPs had recently carried out a drug-related search warrant at the same house.
“These people were clearly shot in the head, and they were also shot in places where the shooter knew a quick death would occur,” the sheriff said. “This is also similar to belonging to high-level gangs and the types of executions they commit.”
The massacre happened around 3.30am on Monday at a family home in Goshen.
MPs responding to reports of multiple shots being fired found two victims dead in the street and a third fatally shot in the doorway of the residence, Boudreaux said.
The identities of the other four victims have since been released by authorities, including that of 50-year-old Jennifer Analla, pictured here
Among Alissa’s family members who were also killed in the tragic shooting was 72-year-old Rosa Parraz
Pictured here is 19-year-old Marcos Parraz, another victim of Monday’s killings and a resident of the Goshen home
Finally, 52-year-old Eladio Parraz Jr. Parraz Jr. was arrested back in early January after officers responding to a parole test found firearms and meth in his home. He was released on bail four days later and died during the shooting on Monday morning
Three other victims were found inside the home, including a man who was alive but later died in a hospital, he said.
Two others survived the attack by hiding in a nearby trailer. They watched the intruders enter the property on security camera, but “when they emerged [the feed] it was too late to do anything,” the sheriff said.
Another survivor evaded the gunmen by hiding in the house as the killings took place.
“He was in such a state of fear that all he could do was hold the door open hoping not to be the next victim,” the sheriff said.
Authorities had previously given the age of Alissa as 16 and her son as 6 months, but said they had received updated information
The Tulare County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate the shooting that killed six people in the small farming town of Goshen, California
Tulare County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Department officers were seen Monday morning removing the bodies of the victims from the scene of the shooting
Sheriff Mike Boudreaux called the killings “shocking to the nation” and urged the public to turn over any information that might help the investigation
Bordreaux said law enforcement is familiar with the home, a property where “gang activity has routinely occurred in the past.” He did not give any further details.
He added that not all of the victims were drug dealers or gang members, including Alissa, Nycholas and 72-year-old Rosa.
There was “no reason” for the shooter to target the young mother and baby, Boudreaux told reporters.
“I know for sure that this 10-month-old baby relied on his mother for comfort,” he said. “There was no reason for them to shoot that baby, but they did.”
Authorities previously gave Alissa’s age as 16 and her son as 6 months, but they have since updated their ages.
“It’s shocking for the nation, shocking for our county, shocking for our state, and I have to tell you I’m getting calls from all over the country,” he said.
“It’s shocking for the nation, shocking for our county, shocking for our state, and I gotta tell you I’m getting calls from all over the country,” Sheriff Mike Boudreaux told detectives Tuesday
Earlier this month, police issued a search warrant on the home, leading to the arrest of Eladio Parraz Jr., a convicted felon who was killed during the shooting. Boudreaux said that Parraz Jr. was not the “original intended target” but declined to elaborate further.
Parraz Jr., 52, had an extensive criminal record including offenses including reckless driving to evade arrest and possession of firearms and drugs.
He was arrested after officers responding to a parole test found ammunition, firearms and methamphetamine in the home, according to court records. Parraz Jr. was released on bail four days later.