James Edward Schooley Jr., a 17-year-old from Tulare, California, tragically passed away on March 15, 2014. James was a student and his untimely death left the community in shock and mourning. The incident occurred in the west alley in the 100 block of South E Street, where James was found shot around 5:30 p.m. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
His death was a significant loss to his family, friends, and the local community, who remembered him as a young man with a promising future.
The investigation into James's death led to the arrest of multiple suspects. Two men, Milton Castellanos, 24, and George Cruz, 20, were apprehended in Fontana, California, in connection with the murder. They were believed to be involved in the shooting and were found with a 1999 Hyundai Accent linked to the crime. Both suspects were charged with murder, conspiracy to commit a crime, and accessory after the fact. They were held without bail in Tulare County, with Castellanos booked into the county's Main Jail in Visalia and Cruz into the Bob Wiley Detention Facility.
Additionally, another 17-year-old, Eric Delgado, was arrested near the scene of the shooting. Despite being just weeks shy of his 18th birthday, Delgado was charged as an adult with murder. The charges included a special allegation of using a firearm to commit the crime, which could significantly enhance his sentence if found guilty. Delgado faced a potential 60-year prison sentence, highlighting the severity of the charges against him.
The case drew considerable attention in Tulare, with increased police patrols in the area following the incident. The arrests and subsequent legal proceedings were closely followed by the community, as they sought justice for James and hoped to prevent such tragedies in the future. The investigation and arrests underscored the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in Tulare and Fontana, working together to bring those responsible to justice.
