Man Gunned Down Outside of Workplace

A man was gunned down outside his work place around 5:30 Wednesday morning in Mendota. It happened near the intersection of 7th and Derrick Ave. Deputies identified the victim as Jose Tabares but his relatives said he went by Jose Luis Torres. They described the father of four as a good man who had worked at Cecilia’s Restaurant for about 10 years. This morning they went out to the crime scene looking for answers after the murder. The victim’s son, Jose Ricardo Torres said “I don’t know what happened, he never had trouble or anything, he was a good friend to everybody.” He has no idea why his father, 50 year old Jose Luis Torres was shot to death right outside his car in front of Cecilia’s Restaurant “We know he was showing up for work, he’s a cook at the restaurant and that’s all we know at this point,” Sgt. Joe Smith said. Torres’ brother told us he had been working at the restaurant for ten years and didn’t have trouble with anyone. This morning he got an unexpected call from a neighbor saying something bad had happened. “I really didn’t believe it. I thought it was all a dream but I came down here and he was gone,” Jose Ricardo Torres said. Mendota Police responded to the shooting but Fresno Sheriff Deputies took over the investigation when it was ruled a homicide. “We did have some witnesses that heard some shots being fired and there was also a report of 3 males fleeing the area,” said Sgt. Smith. Now Torres’ family hopes the suspects are caught as they begin life without him. “He told me whenever he dies, keep your head up and live your life, that’s what I’m gonna do,” said Jose Ricardo Torres. The investigation is still ongoing. Deputies are still not sure if the murder was a random act, anyone with information is asked to contact the Fresno County Sheriffs Department.