Adonis Tapia, a 22-year-old resident of Porterville, California, tragically lost his life on January 2, 2020, in a drive-by shooting. The incident occurred just before 11 a.m. in the 700 Block of East Success Drive. Upon arrival, Tulare County Sheriff's Deputies found Tapia suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite being transported to a local hospital, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
The suspect vehicle was described as a dark-colored midsized import vehicle, and the investigation was immediately taken over by the Sheriff's Homicide and Forensic Units.
The investigation into Tapia's murder quickly led to the identification and arrest of two suspects, brothers Jeremy Bailey, 20, and Christopher Corbit, 25, both from Porterville. The Tulare County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol and Utah Highway Patrol, tracked the suspects to Nebraska, where they were believed to have family. On January 5, 2020, the suspects were spotted entering Utah, leading to a pursuit that ended with their arrest following a non-injury car accident. The suspects were taken into custody without incident, and the Sheriff's Homicide Detectives traveled to Utah to assist with the ongoing investigation.
The motive behind the shooting has not been disclosed, as the case remains an active investigation. Authorities have urged anyone with information about the suspects' vehicle, a black 2006 Acura TL, to come forward. The vehicle is believed to have been abandoned shortly after the murder. The arrests of Bailey and Corbit marked a significant development in the case, but the investigation continues as law enforcement seeks to uncover all the details surrounding the tragic death of Adonis Tapia.
