Fresno Police fire shots after encountering suspect who allegedly shot a woman, cops say

Fresno Police fired shots Thursday night that critically injured a man suspected of shooting a woman at a different location, the department confirmed.

Read the latest on the case here

According to Lt. Israel Reyes, a 50-year-old man allegedly shot a woman during a domestic violence incident at 8:53 p.m., near Gearhart and Fairmont avenues in northeast Fresno.

The suspect then fled the scene but was eventually tracked down about 10 miles away, spotted in a vehicle by Fresno Police near Whitesbridge and Amador avenues in southwest Fresno.

Officers initiated a traffic stop at South Plumas Street and East Oleander Avenue, but the suspect did not stop and continued where he fired at officers.

Reyes said the suspect continued to evade officers and traveled westbound on West Whitesbridge Avenue until he reached the intersection of Whitesbridge and West Amador and traveled across a center median, crashing into a fence that is attached to Chandler Airport.

Officers observed the suspect exiting the vehicle and appear to shoot at officers. Officers returned fire, striking him.

Reyes said the suspect got out of the vehicle and stopped 50 feet away from the suspect’s vehicle. The police helicopter found the suspect in the field and officers told him not to move.

“He made some movements,” Reyes said. “He was a danger to officers.”

A K-9 dragged the suspect to the officers. The suspect, who is described to be a West Side gang member, was taken to Community Regional Medical Center and was listed in stable condition, police said.

A large number of Fresno Police later gathered at the scene of the officer-involved shooting to investigate the situation.

This story was originally published April 15, 2021 at 10:35 PM.