CALEXICO — The Calexico Police Department has arrested the primary suspect in a violent early-morning assault that left a 39-year-old man with serious head injuries.
On Saturday, August 9, 2025, at approximately 4:31 a.m., the police received a 911 call reporting a fight involving multiple male and female subjects in the 200 block of East First Street, just across the pedestrian West Port of Entry. The caller also reported that one of the individuals was armed with a baseball bat.
Officers arrived within two minutes, finding the victim bleeding from the head and suffering blunt force trauma to the face. The suspects had already fled the area.
Detectives launched an immediate investigation, interviewing witnesses, collecting surveillance footage, and securing other evidence. Their work led to the identification of all suspects involved.
On Monday, August 11, 2025, detectives served a search warrant at a suspect’s residence in Calexico, though the suspect was not present. Later that day, two suspects voluntarily turned themselves in.
The primary aggressor, identified as 33-year-old Calexico resident Victor Zavala-Avila, was booked into Imperial County Jail on charges of attempted murder. The second suspect was interviewed and released pending further investigation.
Police have obtained cell phone footage of the incident that had been circulating on social media.
The police clarified that the victim is alive and recovering from injuries; the uniformed individuals in the videos are Port Security Officers, not Calexico Police Officers; and Calexico Police officers arrived within two minutes of the call being dispatched.
The case remains active, and anyone with information is urged to contact the Calexico Police Department at (760) 768-2140 or email police@calexico.ca.gov, referencing Case Number 25-008875. Anonymous tips are welcome.