10/26/09 - Madison County

Friends of Homicide Victim Speak Out
By: Lauren Linney
9:41 p.m.
 
Jackson's 11th homicide of the year is unsolved as investigators still search for the man they believe is involved in the brutal death of Valentine Rivera, 41. His friends hope whoever is responsible pays for what they did. "The anger we have for whoever did this; I don't know; I can't explain," said Arturo Hernandez, who knew Rivera for 10 years.
 
Hernandez called Rivera a hard working man who strived to be successful for his family. "He was the kind of person that would make you laugh. He brought a smile just by him being there. He always tried to defend everybody," said Hernandez.
 
According to Hernandez, Rivera had a wife and two sons back in Rio Grande, Sacatacas, Mexico. He was apparently planning to leave to visit them the night he was killed. "The person that he was leaving with decided not to go yet. He [Rivera] said, 'Well, I'll stay another week.' And they invited him to another wedding and he went. Little did he know," said Hernandez.
 
Jackson police said Rivera died while trying to help two other men who were in a fight at the Jackson Fairgrounds; when he was beaten, dragged behind a car and run over a couple of times. Hernandez said he believes the men who attacked Rivera did it on purpose. "They wanted to hurt him. That's what I think because they were throwing bottles on their heads and throwing them on the ground and that's something you don't do," said Hernandez.
 
Investigators are still searching for Luis Becerra, 23, who is wanted in connection with Rivera's death. Hernandez hopes justice will be served. "He'll [Rivera] never come back, but we'll keep him in our hearts," said Hernandez.
 
Becerra is about 5'5" tall and weighs about 150 pounds. Police said he owns a white, 1996, four door Chevy Tahoe that ran over Rivera. Officers are usurer if Becerra was actually driving at the time.
 
The Tahoe has factory rims, tinted windows, and the word "Cowboy" printed on the back window. It has a Tennessee license plate with the number 533-WCC. If you have any information that can help investigators, please call the Jackson police department or Crime Stoppers.