Protesters call for criminal charges in 2017 Fresno police shooting of teenager
Protesters marched Wednesday to demand that criminal charges be brought against the Fresno policeman who fatally shot a teenager in April 2017 while the boy was fleeing from officers.
Video released last October shows Sgt. Ray Villalvazo firing a single shot into the back of Isiah Murrietta-Golding’s head.
A federal civil rights lawsuit filed in 2018 accuses then-Police Chief Jerry Dyer, Villalvazo and the city of Fresno of excessive force, unlawful deadly force, assault and battery, and negligence.
Dyer, who is now the Fresno mayor-elect, said at the time the video was released last year that an internal police investigation determined that “Sgt. Villalvazo’s actions were within department policy.”
The shooting of Murrietta-Golding was justified, Dyer said at the time, because the teen was wanted for the murder of 19-year-old Eugenio Ybarra that occurred on April 14, 2017.
A day after Ybarra was killed, Dyer said, Murrietta-Golding ran from a car that had been stopped by police. Officers believed he was armed with a handgun that was used in the killing of Ybarra.
While police were chasing Murrieta-Golding, he “reached into his waistband several times,” Dyer said. After he jumped a fence and entered the rear of a day care center, Murrietta once again reached into his waistband, while looking back at Villalvazo, the chief said.
“Fearing he was about to be shot, Sgt. Villalvazo fired one round, striking Murrietta-Golding,” Dyer said.
After Murrietta-Golding was shot by police, his 17-year-old brother surrendered to police and was booked into Fresno County’s Juvenile Justice Center in connection with the killing of Ybarra. Because he is a juvenile, his name and his court proceedings are confidential.
Wednesday’s gathering
Frankie Murrietta, uncle of Isiah, performed a blessing ceremony outside the day care center on Wednesday morning. The group of around 75 family members, friends and supporters then gathered at City Hall for a rally to demand criminal charges be brought against the officer.
Anthony Golding, Isiah’s brother, gave an impassioned speech using a bullhorn.
“When it comes to family, it’s personal,” Golding said, his voice breaking. “The fact that ya’ll shot a child? It wasn’t even a grown man.”