Alamillo: SPPD continues homicide
investigation, family raising reward fund

Santa Paula Police continue to investigate the July 23 shooting death of 33-year-old Hector Alamillo Jr. while his family and friends are staging fundraisers to help pay for funeral services as well as establish a reward fund to help catch the killer of the father of two young children.

Alamillo, commonly known as “Hecks” was found dead close to 4 p.m.  inside a home in the 400 block of Grant Line Street.

A resident of the house discovered the body and called police who have been looking for witnesses and clues as well as a possible motive.

Alamillo is a native and longtime resident of Santa Paula; he did not live at the home where his body was found.

At the time of his death, Alamillo, a respected automotive mechanic, was wanted on a felony warrant on a drug violation.

His sister Sandra Alamillo-Nuno said the family, including parents Hope and Hector Alamillo Sr. are, “Holding up as much as possible,” switching between calmly dealing with matters that must be taken care of and grief.

“It’s been really hard,” said Alamillo-Nuno.

“He never would have hurt anybody, but he was our protector,” whom Alamillo-Nuno said would have stepped into harm’s way to protect his family and friends. 

She said her brother, in spite of challenges and struggles, “Truly had a good heart,” and a sweet nature that made him very popular.

“He and I are the closet in age, we were close,” and Alamillo-Nuno, whose family lives in Santa Barbara, said, “We texted just the night before this happened... it’s just crazy how you hear this news all of a sudden,” that plunged the family into grief and resolve in finding who murdered “Tito” - the family’s nickname for him - and why.

Fundraising to help defray funeral costs as well as to establish a reward fund started shortly after Alamillo’s death. 

Said Alamillo-Nuno, “Whatever is left over,” after funeral expenses are paid will be used “for a reward for anybody who knows anything, or knows where these people are that killed my brother.”

For now the family - which for decades has owned and operated Exotic City on East Main Street - has found comfort in the outpouring of sympathy from the community: “We’ve had a tremendous amount of people,” reach out to the family, “It’s just amazing how many have offered so much... “