MADERA - The Madera County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the public’s help in locating the next of kin of a homeless man killed on the streets of Madera at the hands of three high school students in a robbery gone tragically wrong.
On the evening of October 28th three juveniles attacked Antonio Hernandez (40) on South C Street in Madera in order to rob him. During the attack Hernandez was body slammed by one of the juveniles’ causing the man to strike his head on the concrete suffering blunt force trauma to his brain. Five days later the victim succame to his injuries and died at a local hospital.
The attack took place near the South C Street Market where video surveillance showed the vehicle used to transport the juveniles. Madera Police detectives were able to identify the driver of the car as Ralph White (18). While police do not believe White was involved in the attack, the eighteen year old was able to help police identify the suspects.
Detective Sergeant Mark Trukki of the Madera Police Department said White was called by the suspects to pick them up at a party and had no knowledge of the suspect’s intentions. “He is being treated as a witness and has been more than helpful in the investigation of this case.”
On November 8th the first suspect was arrested at Madera High School and has been booked into the Madera County Juvenile Hall on one charge of murder and one charge of attempted robbery. The second suspect is no longer enrolled in school was arrested without incident on November 30th. The third suspect was arrested at Madera South High School on December 4th.
The last two suspects are being charged with attempted robbery and because of recent changes to the state of California’s murder laws, will not face murder charges. On September 28th California Governor Jerry Brown signed a law setting new limits on who can be charged with felony murder.
All three suspects are set to stand before a judge in the Madera Superior Court for a fitness hearing to determine if these youths will be charged as adults for this crimes. Until then we will not be releasing the young men's names.
Outgoing Madera County District Attorney David Linn is out of state. A call to his Assistant District Attorney Angela Hill has gone unreturned.
Hernandez was a homeless individual who did not have any money on him during the robbery. Trukkee said, “These guys picked the wrong man to rob. He had nothing to steal.”
The Madera County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating the next of kin for Antonio Gomez Hernandez (DOB 02/02/1978).
If you have any information on this crime you are asked to contact Detective Hector Garibay at the Madera Police Department at (559) 675-4248. If anyone has information about Mr. Hernandez, or how to get in contact with his next of kin, please contact the Madera County Coroner’s Office at (559) 675-7774.
