Suspect Arrested in Tehachapi Double Homicide

Suspect Arrested in Tehachapi Double Homicide

TEHACHAPI — A 28-year-old man suspected of murdering two other men early Monday morning in Tehachapi, has been arrested. Joaquin Balassa was booked at the Kern county Jail for two counts of murder.

According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, officers from the Tehachapi Police Department responded to a peace disturbance at an apartment complex located in the 600 block of Cherry Lane in downtown Tehachapi on Sept. 1, at around 4 a.m.

“When officers arrived, witnesses directed them to apartment number 47,”  KCSO Sgt. Avery Simpson said. “That is where officers contacted Balassa who resides at the apartment.” Avery said that officers also found two adult men, who paramedics pronounced dead at the scene dead inside the apartment.

Detectives from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Robbery/Homicide Unit were called out, and after a short time were able to develop probable cause to arrest Balassa for murder. Simpson said the cause of death remains under investigation pending the autopsy, as does the motive. Autopsies have been scheduled to determine the manner and cause of death of the victims.

Read more:

Tehachapi News: Tehachapi man arrested on murder charges

KERO: Sheriff’s detectives investigating homicide

Suspect Arrested in Tehachapi Double Homicide was last modified: January 14th, 2019 by admin
Categories: Kern

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Matt Martz

Matthew Martz is a veteran journalist and a graduate of UMass.