Suspect arrested in 2016 killing of Fresno toddler. Police tracked him down in SoCal

Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer Wednesday announced the arrest of a man believed to be the shooter who gunned down a 20-month-old nearly two years ago near Tulare and First streets.

Devin Ratliff, 30, was taken into custody by officers in Southern California on Tuesday. Dyer said the suspect is an associate of West Fresno gang members.

Rashad Halford Jr. was killed by gunfire on June 21, 2016 in the 3000 block of East Platt Avenue while with his parents outside an apartment complex where the family lived. His father Rashad Halford Sr., 30, and Willis Mucelroy, 44, were wounded in the same shooting.

Ratliff is being held in lieu of $4 million bail on murder charges in baby Rashad’s death and the attempted murder of the boy’s father and Mucelroy.

At a news conference, the chief praised homicide detectives, specifically citing Detective Sgt. Andre Benson, for making an arrest in the case. But a visibly emotional Dyer also urged a woman witness to the crime to step forward.

“One witness has yet to provide us with information that she has available to her,” he said. “She has been fearful for her life,” but “I would hate to think that she would keep information to herself.”

Police reported that the shooting took place after Ratliff approached a group of people in front of the complex, made a comment, pulled out a gun and began firing. Halford Sr. returned fire, and Ratliff fled.

Dyer, who briefly stopped during the news conference while overcome with emotion, indicated the baby Rashad case was one of the most difficult for him as a chief.

“Certain cases capture the heart of the community,” he said.

He cited the shooting of Andrew Mitchell, who was paralyzed by a stray bulled in 2002 as the 6-year-old played outside his home, and the shooting death of Janessa Ramirez, 9, who was killed in 2015 by a stray bullet fired as she was walking near her mother outside a store west of Highway 99.

The chief said even gang members have a code, and the shooting of baby Rashad broke it.

“He (Ratliff) crossed a line,” said Dyer.

This story was originally published April 18, 2018 at 10:25 AM with the headline "Suspect arrested in 2016 killing of Fresno toddler. Police tracked him down in SoCal."