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Second homicide of 2002 was suspect in first murder

July 18, 2003
Santa Paula Police Department

The first homicide of 2002 took place close to Ruben’s Bar, and the victim of the second homicide is believed to be the man who stabbed a 16-year-old farm laborer to death on Garcia Alley.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThe first homicide of 2002 took place close to Ruben’s Bar, and the victim of the second homicide is believed to be the man who stabbed a 16-year-old farm laborer to death on Garcia Alley.“He was responsible for a lot of crime,” said Chief Bob Gonzales of Joseph McMullen, 29, who was shot and killed on April 28, 2002.“Our crime rate in general went down after his death.”Santa Paula’s six homicides in 2002 started with a 16-year-old farm worker walking home from Ruben’s Lounge with relatives after a night of drinking. Salvador Perez Chavez died on Garcia Street when stabbed during a botched robbery after a night of drinking. He died at the scene; his two companions were also stabbed in the attack that occurred February 18th just after midnight. According to the survivors there was more than one assailant.
The triple stabbing raised awareness of the high rate of farm laborers who become victims of crime.On April 28th, McMullen was shot to death behind his mother’s S. 7th Street home; he had survived another shooting in a nearby park just a week earlier following an altercation with two women.Following the April 22nd shooting at Ebell Park, McMullen refused treatment and left Santa Paula Memorial Hospital although he still had the bullet lodged in his back, reportedly in close proximity to his spinal cord. He also refused to cooperate with police, telling them that he would take care of the attack on his own.Although SPPD investigators are sure that McMullen was involved in the stabbing death of Chavez, they are still investigating the homicide and seeking those who were with McMullen that night.Anyone with information should call the SPPD at 525-4474 or the SPPD recorded Tip Hotline at 933-4253-1-#. Callers can remain anonymous.Or, call the WeTip hotline at (800) 78-Crime. All information offered remains anonymous, even if the tipster qualifies for a WeTip reward.