Life Sentence in Pizza Shop Shooting
On Thursday, December 1, 2022, in Department 5 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced gang member Myles Gonzales, age 20, to life in prison for two 2020 shootings.
Around 4:55 pm on December 8, 2020, Gonzales, another adult male, and a male juvenile started a verbal altercation with three adult males inside the Little Caesars at the Mary’s Vineyard shopping center in Visalia. The victims were former gang members known to the assailants. As the argument escalated, Gonzales fired several shots from a 9mm handgun, wounding the victims. All three were transported to the hospital where they recovered. The assailants fled but were taken into custody after investigation by the Visalia Police Department. Gonzales was arrested on December 17, 2020.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Gonzales was also the assailant in a November 22, 2020, shooting at the Relax Inn in Visalia in which he shot at three men during another gang-related altercation. No one was injured.
On July 28, 2022, Gonzales pleaded guilty to deliberate, premeditated attempted murder of three victims with the special allegations of discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury and that the crime was for the benefit of a criminal street gang, and gang conspiracy. Related to the Relax Inn shooting, Gonzales pleaded to assault with a firearm of three victims with the special allegations that he used a firearm, and that the crime was for the benefit of a criminal street gang. Additionally, he pleaded to discharge of a firearm with gross negligence and that the crime was committed for the benefit of a street gang, as well as the use of a deadly weapon. All crimes are felonies.
Under current California youthful offender laws, Gonzales must serve 20 years before being considered for parole.
The case was prosecuted by deputy district attorney Michael Caldwell and was investigated by the Visalia Police Department Special Enforcement Unit.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Assistant District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494