Carjacked, armed victim opens fire in Visalia; stray rounds hit two cars

A Visalia carjacking victim opened fire on the suspects who robbed him of his truck Sunday night, striking two cars not connected to the crime, police report.

A police spokesman said the the victim was confronted by two armed men about 10 p.m. in the 1200 block of East Sweet Avenue. The bandits took the victim’s keys at gunpoint and were backing his truck out of a driveway when the victim pulled out his own pistol and fired at the truck.

The police spokesman said it isn’t known if any bullets hit the robbers, but the two other vehicles in the area were hit by stray rounds.

Officers were investigating the carjacking when another victim reported a robbery in the 5100 block of West Walnut Avenue. In that crime, the victim said he was approached by three suspects with handguns who took his cell phone before fleeing in a car.

Police believe the robberies are connected and they may be related to two other robberies earlier Sunday.

Police did not say whether the first victim would face charges for hitting two cars with bullets.

This story was originally published July 3, 2017 at 8:55 AM with the headline "Carjacked, armed victim opens fire in Visalia; stray rounds hit two cars."