Manhunt in central Fresno leads to three arrests

A gang-related shooting and subsequent car chase ended in the arrest of three men in central Fresno after the suspects crashed their black SUV in the area of Maroa Avenue and Sussex Way.

Police said the suspects crashed less than a mile from where they opened fire on two victims in a parked vehicle on Effie Street and Pontiac Way, around 11:15 p.m. The victims were unharmed, but several bullets struck their vehicle.

The victims helped locate the suspects’ vehicle and a chase began. When the suspects crashed, over 50 officers from multiple agencies canvassed the area around the collision scene. After several hours of searching backyards in the neighborhood, all three suspects were arrested.

Fresno residents Javonni Lavender, 22, and Ryan Myles, 25, were booked into Fresno County Jail. Delonte Love, 24, is being treated at Community Regional Medical Center for injuries sustained during a police-dog chase and will be booked into Fresno County Jail once he is medically cleared.

A rifle police say was used in the shooting was recovered from a nearby yard during the search.

Police said it was a miracle that the two victims were not seriously injured or killed during the shooting of their vehicle.

This story was originally published January 10, 2016 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Manhunt in central Fresno leads to three arrests."