Visalia police: Fatal shooting appears to be justifiable

A Visalia man is dead after being shot in a fight at the home of his relatives, but Visalia police said Monday the evidence points to justifiable homicide.

No arrests have been made.

The dead man has been identified as Tyler Monk, 20, of Visalia.

About 10:36 p.m. Sunday, police received a call of a disturbance at a home on the 3800 block of South Shady Street, south of Caldwell Avenue and west of Mooney Boulevard. While on the way to the call, a witness said shots had been fired.

Officers found Monk suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at Kaweah Delta Medical Center.

Monk once lived at the home but had been kicked out for violent behavior, police said. Earlier Sunday, he returned to the family home and police were called, but he left after an argument before police arrived.

He later returned, broke open a door and got into a physical altercation with several family members, police said.

A man who is in a relationship with a woman at the home and lives there shot Monk during the struggle, police said. His name was not released.

How the dead man is related to the residents is not being released during the investigation, police said.

Police are investigating whether drug use or mental illness played a role in the fight, Sgt. Damon Maurice said.

The results of the investigation will be forwarded to the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office, which will make the final determination on whether the homicide is justified.

Anyone with information is asked to call detective Celeste Sanchez at (559) 713-4739.

This story was originally published July 6, 2015 at 4:29 PM with the headline "Visalia police: Fatal shooting appears to be justifiable."