On the night of February 7, 2025, Solomon Ponce, a 31-year-old man from Tulare, California, was fatally shot near San Joaquin Avenue and North California Street following a physical altercation. Officers responded to reports of gunfire at approximately 10:50 p.m. and discovered Ponce suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
During the investigation, authorities learned that a 39-year-old man had also been wounded in the shooting and had self-transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Detectives determined that the shooting was gang-related and had stemmed from a confrontation between Ponce and several other males.
Law enforcement arrested two 17-year-old male suspects in connection with the homicide. The first suspect was taken into custody after officers executed a search warrant. The second suspect was arrested during a traffic stop after SWAT officers served a high-risk search warrant at a residence on A Street. Authorities continue to investigate the case and urge anyone with information to contact Detective Eric Wilson at the Tulare Police Department.
