Guilty Verdict in North County Attempted Murders

On Friday, February 7, 2025, in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, TCDA prosecutors secured a guilty verdict against Orosi man Raul Alberto Vasquez, age 20, for a series of shootings in the Cutler Orosi area in the summer of 2023.

Around 10 pm on June 27, 2023, a group of neighbors and friends were outside in their Cutler neighborhood when a dark sedan, unfamiliar to the group, drove slowly past. The driver rolled down his window and yelled, “What’s up ese’s?” before shooting at the group, striking two adult males. The vehicle then sped away. Both men survived.

A month later on July 29, 2023, in Cutler, an adult male was outside his vehicle parked at a relative’s house when a dark sedan approached. The driver of the sedan began yelling profanities at the man, who told him he did not want any problems. The driver responded by shooting at the man as he took cover behind his vehicle. A little more than an hour later, sheriff’s deputies responded to an orchard for a single car accident regarding the sedan. Deputies located Vasquez, who was positively identified by the victim as the shooter.

At trial, Vasquez was convicted of four felony counts of willful, deliberate, and premeditated attempted murder, four special allegations of discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle, two special allegations of personally and intentionally discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury, and two special allegations of personal discharge of a firearm.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 19, 2025, in Superior Court where Vasquez faces 118 years-to-life in prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kirk Davis and was investigated by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.

Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Communications Director Stuart Anderson (559) 636-5494