By David Courtland, The Porterville Recorder
A 29-year-old Porterville man died Monday night at Sierra View District Hospital of multiple gunshot wounds. Porterville police are asking for help to piece together what lad to the city's ninth homicide of the year.

Jose A. Gonzalez was found on the south sidewalk of Morton Avenue just east of Plano Street by officers answering an anonymous phone call reporting shots fired at 9:35 p.m.

“Basically, we're trying to find out what caused this to transpire,” Sgt. Duanne Griffin said Tuesday afternoon. “What he was doing previously, who was the last person to see him, before this transpired.”

Three police officers arrived within three minutes to begin searching for the driver of a dark-colored or black mid-sized pickup, possibly a Toyota Tacoma or Ford Ranger.

Witnesses reported seeing a Hispanic man drive the truck east on Morton Avenue from Larson Street. He was described as being in his mid-20s, 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, with short hair.

Griffin said he is waiting for autopsy results to tell him how many shots were fired or the type of weapon, although it is thought to have been a handgun.

On Tuesday afternoon, three officers canvassed the city in search of family or friends of Gonzalez, who can provide clues to what led to his killing.

Anyone with information that could help investigators is asked to call Detective Dominic Barteau at 782-7400.

Contact David Courtland at 784-5000, Ext. 1047 or at dcourtland@portervillerecorder.com.

This story was published in The Porterville Recorder on Dec. 6, 2006