Central Valley community mourns boxer killed in murder-suicide
The community is mourning a rising boxer who was killed in Hanford Sunday morning in a murder-suicide by his girlfriend’s ex-husband.
Hundreds gathered Wednesday night at the Hanford Civic Park for a candlelight vigil to remember 25-year-old Adrian Valdovinos, a young boxer who was a victim of domestic violence.
Valdovinos trained in the Hanford PAL program and held a professional record of 10-2.
Ruben Valdovinos, his brother, described him as someone with “a gentle and thoughtful soul who loved deeply. Anyone who knew him knew the kind of heart he carried.“
He said his brother loved spending time with family either watching soccer games with his father or making his mother laugh, always calm, funny and full or love.
“My brother was honored by an overwhelming amount of friends, family and loved ones,” said Ruben to those at the vigil. “Although his life was far too short, Adrian made a lasting impact on so many people.”
According to the Hanford Police, officers responded to a 911 call Sunday at 4:12 a.m. from a home in the 1500 block of University Avenue where a man and a woman could be heard arguing in the background and possible gunshots.
Police said officers identified themselves when arriving on scene while the arguing continued inside the residence.
According to police, the suspect, 33-year-old Vincent Diaz, forced his way into the house and shot Valdovinos before killing himself.
Valdovinos, who was dating Diaz’s ex-wife, was found shot dead inside a bedroom.
According to news reports, Diaz’s ex-wife requested a restraining order in March. The couple had been separated since last summer.
Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact Hanford police detective division at 559-585-2540.
This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 3:36 PM.
