Proactive targeting of illegal guns keeping shootings down in Selma, police say

A traffic stop Thursday night that recovered an AR-15 type of rifle from two men is keeping shootings to a minimum in Selma, just one since March, says Chief Joe Gomez.

However, Gomez noted a worrisome trend for the city: His officers have also recovered three so-called “ghost guns,” weapons manufactured from an unknown source without serial numbers. The manufacture of such weapons is of high interest to state and federal authorities.

Thursdays traffic stop took place just before 8 p.m. at a Selma gas station, where officers spotted the loaded, semi-automatic rifle, in plain view on the floorboard behind driver Gemini Moreno, 20, of Parlier, said Gomez. The rifle was equipped with a high-capacity magazine. Moreno is a gang member and convicted felon with an extensive violent history, said the chief. The passenger was identified as Alexis Diaz, 25, also from Parlier, and was sought on a felony arrest for resisting arrest.

The most-recent recovery of a ghost gun in Selma took place July 7, when Sergio Sanchez, a Bulldog gang member, was pulled over while driving a Nissan Altima, said Gomez. Officers were able to search the car because Sanchez was on probation, and they recovered the .40 caliber handgun.

“I’ve seen several (ghost guns) since I’ve been Selma,” said Gomez, a former Fresno police lieutenant. “I just know per capita, I have seen way more in Selma that I ever saw in Fresno.”

This story was originally published July 17, 2020 at 1:51 PM.