Jose Mendez Varela, 19, was shot to death on April 16, 2021, while working in a vineyard near S. Butte and W. Chandler Avenues in Fresno County, California. The shooting occurred early in the morning during pruning work; two other men were shot multiple times but survived. An argument at the work site reportedly involved two brothers, Victor and Vincent Cerna, who then pulled out guns and opened fire before fleeing in a car.

Investigators identified the Cerna brothers as primary suspects. They were later detained in Mexico on unrelated drug charges; U.S. authorities confirmed they were wanted in Fresno County for Jose Mendez Varela’s murder and arranged extradition. Both Victor and Vincent Cerna were returned to U.S. custody and booked in California, each facing murder charges with bail set at $4.5 million.

Anyone who worked at the vineyard or saw activity around S. Butte and W. Chandler Avenues that morning is asked to come forward with information.