Tulare County Man Honored at White House After Brother’s Murder

Jody Jones speaks at “Angel Family” event about his brother Rocky’s death at the hands of an undocumented immigrant.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Jody Jones, a Tulare County resident, was honored at the White House on Monday for his advocacy work after his brother Rocky was murdered by an undocumented immigrant in a 2018 crime spree. Rocky Jones was one of several victims of 36-year-old Gustavo Garcia, who had been deported twice before the incident. Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux says state laws prevented them from holding Garcia in jail longer, leading to the deadly rampage.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing debate around immigration policy and its impact on public safety, as well as the pain experienced by families who have lost loved ones to crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of sanctuary state laws and the balance between public safety and civil liberties.

The details

In December 2018, Rocky Jones was shot and killed by Gustavo Garcia outside a gas station in Visalia, California. Garcia, who had been deported twice before, was on a violent crime spree across Tulare County at the time. He is also accused of shooting a farmworker and getting into a shootout with deputies before dying in a car accident. Despite Garcia’s criminal and immigration history, state laws prevented local law enforcement from holding him in jail longer, leading to the deadly rampage.

  • In December 2018, Rocky Jones was killed by Gustavo Garcia.
  • On Monday, February 24, 2026, Jody Jones was honored at the White House for his advocacy work following his brother’s murder.

The players

Jody Jones

The brother of Rocky Jones, who was murdered by an undocumented immigrant in 2018. Jody has been an advocate for victims’ families and has spoken out about the need to improve the judicial and immigration systems.

Rocky Jones

The murder victim, who was killed by Gustavo Garcia in a 2018 crime spree in Tulare County, California.

Gustavo Garcia

The 36-year-old undocumented immigrant who was responsible for Rocky Jones’ murder and several other violent crimes in Tulare County before dying in a car accident.

Mike Boudreaux

The Tulare County Sheriff, who spoke about the limitations local law enforcement faced in holding Gustavo Garcia due to state sanctuary laws.

President Trump

The U.S. President who hosted the “Angel Family” event where Jody Jones was honored for his advocacy work.

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What they’re saying

““We’re talking about them putting our loved ones in graves. That’s what we talk about. We will never see our family members again.””

— Jody Jones (yourcentralvalley.com)

““This man was arrested, released, and within 24 hours, he went on a shooting spree in Central California. Unfortunately, my brother was in the wrong place at the wrong time. This man shot my brother eight times at point-blank range.””

— Jody Jones (yourcentralvalley.com)

““The issue really needs to be corrected at the federal level. It needs to be corrected at the state level. But when it comes to local law enforcement, my job is to look out for the victims of crimes, regardless of your immigration status.””

— Mike Boudreaux, Tulare County Sheriff (yourcentralvalley.com)

What’s next

The case has raised calls for changes to federal and state immigration and criminal justice policies to better protect public safety.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the human cost of gaps in the immigration and criminal justice systems, and the need to find a balanced approach that respects civil liberties while also prioritizing public safety and justice for victims and their families.