Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Killing Wheelchair-Bound Victim

VISALIA, Calif. — Carlos Manuel Ayala, 32, was sentenced to at least 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of an unhoused man in a wheelchair in 2023. Ayala accepted a plea deal on Tuesday inside a Tulare County courtroom where cameras were not allowed.

According to Jessica Weatherly, a prosecutor with the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office, Ayala received a sentence of second-degree murder along with a special allegation for using a gun during the crime. His sentence consists of 15 years to life, plus 10 additional years, summing to a minimum of 25 years.

Investigators reported that Ayala shot the victim, identified as Joe, multiple times after several confrontations at a nearby convenience store. The encounters stemmed from Joe’s unhoused status and frequenting the store, which is adjacent to Ayala’s home.

Weatherly expressed the senselessness of such violence, especially considering Joe’s circumstances. “It’s devastating and hard to explain,” she said. “Joe was in a wheelchair. He was acting peacefully toward people at the store when he encountered the defendant.”

Prosecutors noted that Joe appeared to be well-liked among store employees. His mother did not attend the court proceedings due to the emotional toll of her loss. Weatherly stated, “She has suffered the loss of not only one child but two, making it difficult for her to process why this violent act was committed against her son.”

Ayala will be eligible for parole in about 34 years, after serving 85% of his sentence, with the parole board holding the final decision.