Murder mystery: Body with gunshot wound found on Fresno freeway

Fresno police are investigating a murder after the body of a man with a gunshot wound was found Saturday morning on Highway 180 west of Highway 99.

Capt. Mark Salazar said a driver who saw the body called police around 7:30 a.m.

“We thought that maybe the person was a hit-and-run (victim) or something,” Salazar said.

When police reached the body, they found a gunshot wound. The victim is only described so far as a Hispanic man in his 20s or 30s.

“We don’t know who he is,” Salazar said.

Salazar said he was not sure if the man was shot at the same location or if he was dropped off where police found him on the north side of westbound Highway 180. A crime scene investigation unit and the Fresno County Coroner’s Office were on scene.

Salazar didn’t describe the man’s wounds other than to say he had been shot, but said police were continuing to examine all evidence in the investigation. It is not known if the murder is gang-related.

Westbound Highway 180 was closed as police investigated. Eastbound traffic on Highway 180 was not affected.

Salazar said this is the 39th murder of the year, compared to 40 last year.

This story was originally published December 24, 2016 at 10:38 AM with the headline "Murder mystery: Body with gunshot wound found on Fresno freeway."