Chico, CA – On October 03, 2021, at 3:54 AM the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) received a 9-1-1 call from the owner of a local taxi company. The caller told BCSO dispatchers that he had been assaulted by two individuals in the area of Lone Pine Avenue, Chico. BCSO deputies were immediately dispatched to the area and contacted the taxi driver. The taxi driver was injured during the assault and was immediately transported to a local hospital.
While responding to the call, BCSO dispatch began receiving multiple calls about a male prowling at residences near Lone Pine Avenue. Deputies arrived in the area, located a deceased male in the roadway on Lone Pine Avenue, and located a second male in the backyard of a residence. The deceased male was identified as Victor Hernandez, age 28, of Chico. The male located in the backyard of a residence was identified as Jose Huerta, age 22, of Willows.
During the subsequent investigation, detectives determined the taxi driver picked Hernandez and Huerta up in the Chico area and began driving them to a location in the unincorporated area of Chico. Prior to arriving at the location Hernandez produced a handgun and fired the handgun multiple times inside of the taxi. Hernandez and Huerta also assaulted the taxi driver. After the assault Hernandez and Huerta exited the taxi.
During the investigation, detectives gathered evidence that gave them cause to believe Hernandez and Huerta exited the taxi while it was moving. Detectives determined Hernandez was injured during the assault and/or while attempting to exit the taxi. An autopsy will be conducted to determine Hernandez’s cause of death. During the investigation detectives also located evidence that Huerta entered a trailer located behind a residence on Lone Pine Avenue and took item(s) from the trailer.
Huerta was arrested for the following felony charges: Assault with a deadly weapon resulting in great bodily injury, violating the terms and conditions of his probation, and burglary. This investigation is on-going. If anyone has information about this investigation, they are encouraged to call BCSO detectives at 530-538-7671.