Tulare County man brutally murdered during Halloween party, six arrested

Six suspects were arrested early Thursday in connection with the brutal attack and murder of a Farmersville man, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office announced.

The incident occurred around 1 a.m. on Oct. 27, when officers responded to a report of a man lying on the ground near Avenue 291 and Road 166 in Farmersville, bleeding.

Officers found Angel Puga, 25, of Farmersville, who had suffered blunt force trauma and a gunshot wound. Puga died at the scene, officials said.

According to investigators, Puga was at a large Halloween party and attempted to leave when he was confronted by a group of individuals identified as northern gang members.

The suspects allegedly punched Puga during the altercation and ultimately shot him before fleeing.

An autopsy later confirmed that Puga’s death was the result of blunt force trauma, with the gunshot wound not being the fatal injury.

After an extensive investigation involving search warrants and interviews, detectives identified Landon Woods, 20, of Exeter, Eric Bullard, 18, of Tulare, Matthew Makert, 22, of Visalia, and three teenage boys, ages 17 and 16, as suspects at Puga’s home. dead.

Authorities say all six suspects were taken into custody without incident.

The adult suspects were booked into the TCSO South County Detention Facility, while the juveniles were sent to the Juvenile Detention Facility on murder charges.