Shooting leaves one dead, another injured in Fresno County town

One man was killed and another injured amid gunfire late Sunday afternoon in the Fresno County city of Parlier.

Although initially called a drive-by shooting, based on early reports, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Tony Botti said it instead involved a dispute between one man and the pair who were shot. It occurred just before 4:20 p.m. outside the El Rancho Market at Parlier and Whitner avenues.

The injured victim, a man in his early 30s, was taken to a hospital and listed in critical condition Sunday, according to the sheriff’s office. The man killed was in his late 50s. The two men shot are related, Botti said.

No description of the assailant was released.

911 call triggers Parlier PD response

At 4:19 p.m., the Parlier Police Department received a 911 call of shots fired. An officer arrived in about a minute and found two men injured on the sidewalk in front of the market.

The older man was dead and EMS rushed the younger man to the hospital.

“Witnesses say there was an altercation between three men, which led to gunshots and the suspect fleeing the area,” Botti stated in a news release. “Detectives have learned this is an isolated incident, the victims were targeted and there are no ties to gangs in this case. They are working to try and identify the suspect.”

It is the first homicide of the year in Parlier, which has its own police force but county deputies were asked to take the lead in the investigation.

Streets closed off; tips sought

Parlier Avenue was closed to traffic between Mendocino and Whitner throughout Sunday night as the investigation continued. Whitner was closed between Second Street and Bulah.

Anyone who wishes to share information, videos or photos related to this case is asked to contact Detective Juan Galindo at 559-600-8215.; Valley Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867 or through the tip response form at valleycrimestoppers.org.

People providing information can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.

This story was originally published May 2, 2021 at 6:34 PM.