Cutler Man Denied Parole for 1993 Labor Day Shooting

Yesterday at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, a California parole board denied parole for Raphael De La Rosa, age 43, for a 1993 shooting in Cutler. De La Rosa was given a three-year denial and is not scheduled for another hearing until 2021.

Around 9 pm on September 6, 1993, a gunman identified as De La Rosa fired at least nine bullets from a .22 caliber rifle into a group of men, women, and children standing outside in front of a residence in Cutler. One young man was struck in the head and died; two young teenagers, a brother and sister, were each struck with a bullet and survived. Two witnesses identified De La Rosa, one stating that he had been alone and dressed allin black, “swinging” the gun as he opened fire. The shooting was allegedly retaliatory for an incident that occurred two days prior. Information later revealed that the weapon used in the shooting was the same weapon that had been used by De La Rosa earlier in the year to shoot at an occupied vehicle.

De La Rosa was convicted of one count of second-degree murder with the use of a firearm and eight counts of assault with a deadly weapon, two with the special allegation that the assaults caused great bodily injury. He was sentenced to 33 years-to-life in prison.

This was De La Rosa’s initial parole hearing. The District Attorney’s Office routinelyattends life parole hearings and a Senior Deputy District Attorney argued against theinmate’s release in this case.

Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Assistant District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494