Parole Suitability Found for Man Who Shot 8-Year-Old in Dinuba

At a virtual hearing on October 29, 2024, over the objection of TCDA prosecutors, California parole commissioners found Ramiro Bautista, age 78, suitable for parole after serving over three decades of a life sentence in prison for the 1989 shooting death of a child in Dinuba. Bautista is currently incarcerated the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.

On April 16, 1989, the adult victim was in his truck waiting for his wife while watching his children play near a water fountain at a church in Dinuba. The victim observed Bautista slowly drive by in a van. At this time, the victim’s 8-year-old son got in the truck and the two began to drive away. The van was nearby again, this time with a .22 rifle aiming out of the driver’s window. Bautista opened fire, hitting the adult victim in the shoulder, leg and grazing his head. When he was hit, he let go of his son’s head which he had been holding down with his hand. The child sat up and was fatally struck in the head. Ten bullet holes were found in various parts of the victim’s truck. Bautista was apprehended by police shortly after. Bautista claimed the victim was responsible for an incident against his family in Mexico twenty-years prior.

Bautista was sentenced in 1992 to 25 years-to-life in prison after being found guilty of second-degree murder and attempted murder with the special allegations of use of a firearm and inflicting great bodily injury.

This was Bautista’s 7th parole hearing after having been denied six previous times. The District Attorney’s Office routinely attends life parole hearings and a prosecutor argued against the inmate’s release in this case.  

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