Gunman opens fire, kills motorist in downtown Fresno

Fresno police are searching near downtown Fresno for a gunman who opened fire on a motorist, killing the 59-year-old man and causing a three-vehicle crash near Belmont Avenue and Fresno Street on Friday afternoon.

The shooting took place at 2:31 p.m. at Mariposa Street and Madison Avenue. Lt. Joe Gomez said the driver was in a black Mercedes on Madison when he pulled over to pick up a 16-year-old girl for an unknown reason. Moments later, a man who was with two male juveniles pulled out a handgun and fired multiple rounds at the driver, striking him in the upper torso and left shoulder.

The driver sped away from the gunman west on Mariposa toward Fresno Street, where he clipped a car on Fresno, spinning that car. The Mercedes then slammed into another car. As officers arrived, the driver was taken by ambulance to Community Regional Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. The girl in the car, who initially ran from the scene and tried to board a bus on Olive Avenue, was being treated at Community for injuries sustained in the crash.

The shooting happened west of Highway 41, but a few minutes later, officers spotted the suspect and the juveniles east of 41 on Washington Street. Officers tried to detain the suspect, but he jumped a fence and fled west on Washington. The juveniles were detained.

Officers and police dogs were searching the area for the gunman, described as a white male in in his late teens or 20s, about 6 feet tall and 150 pounds with short black hair and thick, black-framed glasses. He was dressed in a dark sweatshirt and blue jeans. Gomez said he may have some type of scar or disfigurement on his lip.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP.

This story was originally published January 15, 2016 at 3:15 PM with the headline "Gunman opens fire, kills motorist in downtown Fresno."