Six months after a man was found dead and riddled with bullets along a darkened Lake County highway, law enforcement has publicly confirmed they are officially investigating the death as a homicide.
In a press release issued by California Highway Patrol’s Northern Division Office, authorities identified the man who died on the night of October 17, 2023, as 33-year-old Hidden Valley Lake man Andrew Cleofaspaul Gurrola.
Investigators have gathered Gurrola was seen around 8:43 that night reportedly bleeding from the face as he walked along SR-29 south of Lower Lake. In distress, Gurrola was seen attempting to flag down passing motorists. When first responders arrived on the scene, Gurrola had succumbed to his injuries.
Scanner traffic we heard the evening of the incident indicates there was initial confusion as to Gurrola’s cause of death.
A firefighter on the scene was heard telling dispatch the circumstances pointed towards an apparent hit and run,
However, there were reports that 4-5 gunshots were heard in the area minutes before the incident began.
In addition, a responding law enforcement officer was heard on the scanner reported to dispatch that there were no apparent gunshot wounds on Gurrola’s body.
Another peculiarity from that night noted in our earlier reporting was the lack of information broadcast about a suspect vehicle.
In cases of a hit and run or a drive-by shooting, local law enforcement will often issue a Be On the Lookout to area agencies to assist in tracking down any suspects. On the night Gurrola was killed, law enforcement did not relay any information about an involved vehicle.
The day after Gurrola was killed, CHP issued its first press release that provided vague details of the incident. Gurrola was described as a “possible injured pedestrian” and his cause of death was described as “reasons still under investigation.”
Since then, the pedestrian’s death remained ambiguous until a reader’s inquiry prompted us to reach out to CHP. It took six months to get a definitive statement about Gurrola’s death.
We spoke with Officer Cy May of CHP’s Northern Division Investigative Services Unit about the agency’s investigation of Gurrola’s homicide.
Officer May explained that Gurrola’s homicide investigation is under the jurisdiction of the CHP because the incident occurred on State Route 29 which is the property of the State of California. “The California Highway Patrol is the state agency that is responsible for all crimes which occur within our jurisdiction or on state property”, Officer May explained.
We asked Officer May why it took six months for Gurrola’s death to be deemed a homicide. Officer May corrected us saying that investigators had identified Gurrola’s cause of death as homicide “shortly after the incident” but CHP “did not author an updated press release or provide certain details related to this incident due to investigative purposes.”
He went on to say, “Due to the sensitivity of this case and the fact it is an ongoing investigation we are not going to be able to release any further information at this time.”
In the days after the incident, we began speaking with a family member of Gurrola’s who was concerned authorities had not publicly stated that their loved one’s death a homicide.
Upon learning that CHP has finally publicly acknowledged Gurrola was murdered, the family member who asked to go unnamed said it is “disappointing and pathetic it took six months to call it a murder. It’s obvious from the moment it happened it was a homicide.”
Gurrola’s family member described him as a “great dad” who “loved his family.” He told us that Gurrola left behind three children, “the youngest just turned 2.”
With the revelation that Gurrola’s death is a homicide, the California Highway Patrol is asking the public to come forward with any knowledge to help solve the case. They stated, “If anyone has information regarding this incident, please call (530)722-4300. Or send an email to 101Tips@chp.ca.gov”
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Despicable!! Take 6 months to go public & then ask for the publics help? Something stinks here! Whatcha hidden chips?
I can not figure out any possible strategy in obtaining any information,good leads,or any sort of solid information, in waiting 6 months to ask for it.
I feel so sad no one stopped for him, they may have saved his life. I send love and condolences to his family
Possible hit and run, then a bullet riddled homicide victim? A body that is bullet riddled shouldn’t be hard to ascertain what the cause of death was.