One killed and two wounded in shooting at California vineyard

One man has been killed and two other men have been seriously wounded in a shooting at a vineyard in Fresno County in California. 

According to a police statement, officers from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office received reports of gunshots on the morning of 16 April at around 7:30am local time.

In an undisclosed vineyard northwest of Huron, they found one man, who had been shot dead, and two other men, who had received multiple gunshot wounds and were subsequently airlifted to hospital. One was reported to have been in a critical condition, while the other was in a serious condition.

Local media reported that the man who lost his life was 19-year-old Jose Mendez Varela from Coalinga. According to eye witnesses, the two suspects, believed to have shot the three men, fled from the scene in a car.

Reports suggest both the victims and the suspects had been working together and pruning vines when there was a disagreement and shots were fired.

Fresno County officers, however, have said the motive for the shooting is yet to be determined. Detectives are continuing their investigation and interviewing vineyard workers who witnessed the incident. Both suspects, described as Hispanic, remain on the run.

Anyone with information is advised to contact detective Jesse Gloria on 559-600-8217 or report the crime anonymously through Valley Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867, www.valleycrimestoppers.org.