Deputies investigate shooting near Kerman; victim wounded inside a van

Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a likely gang shooting early Thursday morning near Kerman.

The 27-year-old victim was shot in the upper back close to Highway 145 and West Jensen Avenue about 6:45 a.m.

He was a passenger in a van and the driver met deputies near Dickenson Avenue. The victim was transferred to an emergency vehicle and taken to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno. He is expected to be OK, sheriff’s spokesman Tony Botti said.

Detectives learned the van was filled with six to eight men, some of whom had been involved in a dispute five miles away at La Fe Market at 2144 S. Madera Ave. in Kerman, Botti said.

“These men were on their way to work, stopped at the store and had a disagreement with some other men in the parking lot,” Botti said. “At least one of those other men fired shots at the van, breaking out a side rear window, striking a passenger.”

Deputies are working to try and identify the suspects and get a description of their vehicle.

The victims are not being cooperative and there “is a strong possibility this is a gang-related shooting,” Botti said.

Botti also said there is no evidence that this case is connected to Wednesday’s fatal roadway shooting in Five Points.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 559-600-3111 or Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867.

This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 8:56 AM.