Life Sentence in 2019 Tulare Shooting
Yesterday in Department 17 of the Tulare County Superior Court, South County Justice Center, the court sentenced McFarland man Christopher Gonzalez, age 31, to life in prison for the 2019 shooting murder of a man in Tulare.
On August 24, 2019, at approximately 11:40 pm, Tulare Police Department officers responded to the Prosperity Sports Complex for a report of a gunshot victim. When officers arrived, they located an adult male victim with numerous gunshot wounds. The victim was later pronounced deceased at a local hospital.
Witness testimony stated that after an adult softball game, Gonzalez, who did not play in the game, briskly approached the victim who was standing next to his truck in the parking lot. According to one witness, Gonzalez said, “Remember when you said you wanted to whoop my ass in Morro Bay?” before shooting the victim multiple times. Gonzalez then fled in his vehicle. Three days later detectives were able to locate Gonzalez at a house in Shafter using cell phone pings.
On August 26, 2024, Gonzalez pleaded no contest to felony first-degree murder. According to current California sentencing laws, Gonzalez must serve 25 years in custody, not including CDCR credits, prior to receiving parole consideration.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Jessica Weatherly and was investigated by the Tulare Police Department.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Chief Deputy District Attorney Jessica Weatherly (559) 636-5494