Guns, ammo confiscated following Visalia drive-by shooting

VISALIA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – An AK-47 style rifle, a .32 caliber handgun, several ammunition magazines, and various rounds of ammunition were found as a result of a search warrant service following a drive-by shooting, Visalia police announced.

Saturday night, just after 11:30 p.m., officers were called to the 1000 block of North Enos to investigate a report of a drive-by shooting.

Officers were told a teenager was standing outside a home when shots were allegedly fired by two people in a vehicle who were armed with a rifle and a handgun.

The vehicle left the scene, but officers were quickly called back to a different home in the same area for a report of a disturbance, which was also in the 1000 block of North Enos.

Investigators say they arrived to find 27-year-old Oscar Castaneda and 57-year-old Manuel Vargas Lopez sitting inside a vehicle parked in front of the home. 

While speaking with them, officers said they saw a revolver in plain view inside the car, and detained both men. 

During the investigation, police say they learned Manuel Vargas Lopez and a third suspect, 59-year-old Javier Vargas Lopez, had threatened the original drive-by victims for calling the police. 

Police say Javier Vargas Lopez was in possession of an AK-47-style rifle while threatening the victims. A search warrant was obtained and the AK-47 was located, as well as the handgun, magazines, and ammo.

Officers report Oscar Lopez Castaneda was booked on charges of carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle and carrying a loaded firearm in public. 

Police say Manuel Vargas Lopez was arrested on charges of making criminal threats, intimidating a witness, possession of an assault weapon, and conspiracy. 

Officers report Javier Vargas Lopez was taken into custody on charges of making criminal threats, witness intimidation, possession of an assault weapon, conspiracy, and brandishing a firearm.

All three suspects were booked into the Tulare County Adult Pre-Trial Facility.