Solomon Ponce, 31, was fatally shot on the night of February 7, 2025, near San Joaquin Avenue and North California Street in Tulare, California after a physical altercation. Officers arrived after reports of gunfire around 10:50 p.m. and found Ponce with a gunshot wound; he was taken to a hospital and later died of his injuries. A 39-year-old man was also wounded and drove himself to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Detectives described the shooting as gang-related and said it began with a confrontation between Ponce and several other males. Two 17-year-old male suspects were arrested in connection with the homicide: one after a search warrant was executed and the other following a traffic stop that occurred after SWAT served a high-risk search warrant at a residence on A Street. The investigation is ongoing; anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Eric Wilson at the Tulare Police Department. Anyone with relevant information is asked to come forward.