‘Heartbreaking, senseless tragedy.’ Fresno leaders react to mass shooting that killed 4
Fresno-area leaders reacted with a mix of sorrow and calls for justice hours after an attack that killed four people and wounded six others Sunday night.
Police said a close-knit southeast Asian community was shaken by the violence in their 10-block Fresno neighborhood.
Four men were killed and six others wounded about 7:48 p.m. at a home on Lamona Avenue just south of Fresno Yosemite International Airport. About 35 people were at the home for a peaceful family gathering to watch football. Police said they believe two gunmen opened fire at party-goers.
Two of the injured victims remained in the hospital on Monday, police said, but are expected to survive. No arrests had been made.
Mayor Lee Brand called the violence a “senseless tragedy.”
“My prayers go out to the victims and their families, along with the promise that those responsible for this horrific crime will face the full force of justice. The city of Fresno will not tolerate this type of violence in any of our neighborhoods. We will add whatever resources that are necessary to find those responsible,” Brand said.
Fresno City Councilman Luis Chavez, who represents the southeast Fresno neighborhood where the shooting took place near Peach and Olive avenues, described the violence as a “senseless and criminal act.”
“This action is not a reflection of our community and our officers are working diligently to piece together the sequence of events that led up to this, but more importantly to bring all those involved to justice,” Chavez said.
On Monday, Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, issued a statement, saying the news saddened him.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, but as a community and a country, thoughts and prayers are not enough!” Costa said. “We have passed meaningful bipartisan gun safety legislation this year in Congress that Sen Mitch McConnell refuses to bring up in the Senate. That legislation, combined with state and local efforts, would help make a difference. This plague of gun violence in our country, as we continue to witness, knows no boundaries.”
The neighborhood where the shooting took place has the city’s most densely populated southeast Asian population, according to police. Many of the residents are Hmong.
Mayoral candidate Jerry Dyer also issued a statement Monday.
“I know first hand the impact these types of incidents have on the families, the community, and those who responded to the scene. I encourage everyone to be in prayer for them,” the former police chief said. “I have reached out to Police Chief Andy Hall and Deputy Chief Michael Reid this morning to offer my support. I am very confident the men and women of the Fresno Police Department will solve this horrendous crime very quickly and bring those responsible to justice.”
Sen. Melissa Hurtado, who represents California’s 14th District, took to Twitter to offer condolences to the victims and their families.
“We are in contact with Mayor Lee Brand and Fresno officials. The state stands ready to respond with any assistance that’s needed,” Hurtado wrote.
Police said they would be beefing up patrol in the area of the shooting to attempt to prevent any retaliation, but stressed the people gathering at the home had done nothing to instigate the violence. The party had no gang ties, according to investigators.
Fresno City Councilmember Esmerelda Soria said it was a “sad night” for Fresno and called for an end to gun violence using the hashtags #NotOneMore and #EndGunViolence.
“We must do more,” she wrote.
She also retweeted a post from the student-led demonstration group March for Our Lives.
“At this late hour, a reminder that there doesn’t seem to be a time we can let our guard down. Our country is not safe. We stand in solidarity, and our love and support go out to the victims and families in Fresno,” it read.
An additional three officers who speak Hmong were pulled from their regular patrol and sent to the southeastern district to try to provide services, police said.
Getting a handle on any violence is of particular concern, police said, because the city’s Hmong New Year celebrations are about a month away. The celebration brings in thousands from around the state and across the country.
Fresno mayoral candidate Andrew Janz, a Fresno County prosecutor, offered his thanks to those who had reached so far and promised justice for the victims.
“Rest assured we will bring those responsible to justice,” he wrote.
Phil Arballo, who is opposing incumbent Rep. Devin Nunes in California’s 22nd Congressional District, called the shooting “another heartbreaking, senseless tragedy.”
Fresno City Councilmember Garry Bredefeld said he was heartbroken over the shooting.
“Prayers for the victims and their families and friends,” he said in a tweet This violence will never be tolerated. Justice will be served. God Bless all the victims, their families, our Police and first responders.”
In a separate shooting Sunday, 28-year-old Randy Xiong was killed, according to police. It remains unclear if the shootings were related.
Nonprofit Faith in the Valley released a statement mourning the victims of the mass shooting, and the victims of shootings that get less attention than Sunday’s violence.
“Today we mourn the loss of all lives from gun violence in Fresno and across our country. We grieve for the victims and impacted families of last night’s tragic shooting,” the statement said. “Families have a right to feel and be safe in their own home and community. Sadly, this is not the reality for far too many of us and last night’s mass shooting is only the latest reminder of that.”
This story was originally published November 18, 2019 at 12:42 AM.