Inset: Israel Trevino Jr. (Wallin Funeral Homes). Background: Joe Gomez Jr. giving a thumbs-up at his sentencing hearing (KFSN).
Emotions were deeply stirred in a California courtroom as a convicted murderer confronted the family of his victim during his sentencing. The victim’s son, outraged and grieving, reportedly hurled threats, screaming, “That was my father! You [expletive]! I will hunt you down, and when you get out, I’ll devour your heart, [expletive]!”
In footage captured by local ABC station KFSN, Israel Trevino III, son of the deceased Israel Trevino Jr., is shown angrily confronting Joe Gomez Jr., who received a life sentence for the murder of Trevino Jr. and shooting of Trevino on May 2, 2021. As Gomez makes a thumbs-up gesture towards a camera, Trevino III’s fury escalates.
“You couldn’t take me, huh?” Trevino is heard screaming. “Huh, motherf—er?”
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Video footage shows deputies escorting Gomez to the back of the room as Trevino vocalizes his anger. Fresno County Judge Arlan Harrell addressed Trevino afterward, advising him: “You have every right to express your feelings. But do not vent upon those here fulfilling their duties. Understood?”
Gomez, 63, gunned down Trevino Jr., 57, outside his home in Parlier, a city located around 20 miles southeast of Fresno, and also shot Trevino in an act that he claimed was self-defense. Gomez was charged with murder, attempted murder and assault, and pleaded not guilty.
“The defendant pulled out a firearm, pointed it at Junior,” Deputy District Attorney Nicole Idiart said in court in July 2024 during Gomez’s trial, per KFSN. “Junior rushed the defendant, at which point he was fatally shot,” Idiart said.
Trevino testified at Gomez’s trial and described almost dying in a hail of bullets. “I got shot in the belly,” Trevino said. “Twice in the belly, twice in the pelvis, and once in the eye.”
Before the shooting, Gomez drove around the block several times — stopping in the middle of the road “to rev [his] engine” — before confronting the father and son, according to Trevino.
“He said your grandfather has been talking s— on Facebook,” Trevino III testified, according to KFSN. Central California digital news outlet GV Wire reported that Israel Trevino Sr. told the court he does not use social media and did not make any threats.
Gomez’s lawyers claimed at his trial that he was “being pushed and knocked down” before he opened fire.
“While he’s being knocked down … his gun is going off,” said defense attorney Tony Capozzi, KFSN reported.
Harrell reportedly noted at Gomez’s sentencing how a motive was never actually confirmed or revealed at trial.
“The big question is, ‘Why?’” the judge said. “It’s never been addressed. It’s never been answered.”
Delivering his final statement to Trevino Jr.’s family and the court, Gomez said he was planning to “file an appeal with an appellate court,” according to KFSN.
“The defendant, Joe Gomez’s, constitutional due process rights to a fair trial and an impartial trial were violated with suppression of evidence by a state attorney and the conviction of (inaudible) perjury,” Gomez said.
Harrell denied a request for a new trial Thursday and Gomez now has 60 days to file his appeal, KFSN reports.
