Police identify a teen they say killed a shopkeeper’s son during a jewelry store robbery

Fresno police on Wednesday identified the person they believed shot and killed a shopkeeper’s son as he tried to detain a bandit during a jewelry store robbery in southeast Fresno nearly two weeks ago, and provided new details about how the crime unfolded.

Police Chief Jerry Dyer identified Angel Morelos, 18, as the gunman believed responsible for the fatal shooting of Christopher Leon, 22, during the Aug. 5 robbery of Stereo DJ Outlet/Mari’s Jewelry in southeast Fresno.

Morelos and Angelo Sanchez, 17, two of six bandits involved in the robbery, remain at large. Both are wanted for murder.

Officers are also hunting another as yet unidentified person in the case. Dyer identified the two gunmen during a news conference at police headquarters.

The chief also provided new details about the high-profile crime, which took place on a Saturday night at the store in the 4700 block of East Kings Canyon Road, where officers sped shortly after 7:15 p.m. in response to a shooting. They found Leon wounded in the parking lot. He died despite efforts to keep him alive with CPR.

Dyer said six bandits pulled into the store parking lot and three went inside as three others stayed in the vehicle, backed in for a quick escape. The bandits in the store snatched jewelry and ran with Leon and store owner Maricela Gamez in pursuit.

Leon told Gamez not to hurt one bandit he managed to restrain and took over holding down the suspect, later identified as Morelos. As the three suspects in the car got out to challenge the store workers, Dyer said, Morelos pulled out a handgun and fired it over his shoulder, striking Leon in the head.

The victims were able to copy the car’s license number and police tracked it to a home in the 5500 block of North Amherst Avenue, where two juveniles, 17 and 12, were arrested. A 16-year-old later surrendered to officers.

Anyone with information about Morelos, Sanchez, or the other fugitive should call Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867.

This story was originally published August 16, 2017 at 3:20 PM with the headline "Police identify a teen they say killed a shopkeeper’s son during a jewelry store robbery."