On the evening of April 16, 2024, at approximately 9:20 p.m., Coalinga Police officers responded to reports of gunfire on the 200 block of East Houston Street in Coalinga, California. Upon arrival, they discovered 16-year-old Julian Andrade suffering from gunshot wounds inside his home. He was immediately transported to Coalinga Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
According to family accounts, Julian was in his bedroom playing video games with his 18-year-old brother when the shooting occurred. An assailant approached the residence and fired multiple rounds into the house, one of which fatally struck Julian. His brother, though unharmed, was unable to save him. The family, already grieving the loss of another sibling in a car accident the previous year, was devastated by this tragedy.
The investigation, led by the Fresno County Sheriff's Office in collaboration with Coalinga Police, spanned over three months. Detectives identified two suspects: 18-year-old Nicholas Banales and 20-year-old Damian Aguilera, both from Coalinga. Banales was arrested on August 2, 2024, and charged with murder, with bail set at over $2 million. Aguilera, already incarcerated on unrelated charges, now faces an additional charge of conspiracy to commit murder and is ineligible for bail.
Investigators revealed that Banales approached Julian's home and fired multiple shots into the residence, indicating that the act was targeted rather than random. Both Banales and Aguilera are known gang members; however, Julian had no gang affiliations. The exact motive behind the killing remains under investigation.
Authorities continue to seek additional information regarding this case. Anyone with relevant details is encouraged to contact Detective Jesse Gloria at (559) 600-8217 or Detective Aurelio Flores at (559) 600-8208. Anonymous tips can also be provided through Valley Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867.
