Two homicides in Fresno just a few hours and a few miles apart. What police know
Two homicides in southeast Fresno late Friday night and early Saturday morning were separated by a few hours and a few miles.
The first occurred at 11:30 p.m. near Orchard and Thomas avenues. Fresno Police officers were dispatched after reports that five to six gunshots were heard in the area and that a woman possibly was screaming. Upon arriving at the scene, officers located a man in an alley with two gunshot wounds to the upper body, Lt. Brian Pierce said.
Officers rendered aid and the victim, identified as 38-year old Emilio Marez, was taken to Community Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. “We do have good leads they are following up on,” Pierce said.
On Monday, Fresno police released further details.
Detectives learned that Marez was on Orchard Avenue near the entrance to the alleyway when an unknown person fired shots towards his direction, hitting him. That person ran from the scene. Evidence at the scene indicated there was an exchange of gunfire, police said.
The second homicide occurred at 1:30 a.m. Officers responded to a ShotSpotter electronic surveillance system notification of four gunshots at the intersection of Balch and Jackson avenues.
“When officers arrived on scene they located one male adult that was suffering from what appeared to be possibly two or four gunshot wounds to his body,” Pierce said. “While officers were rendering aid to the subject EMS and Fire arrived and they transported the subject to CRMC where he was pronounced deceased.”
Police were canvassing for witness statements and looking for surveillance video, and street violence bureau detectives were on scene as well investigating the homicide.
On Monday, police identified the victim as 29-year old Jose Palomares of Fresno.
Detectives said Palomares was walking southbound on Jackson Avenue when a car pulled up to him. Someone got out of the car and fired multiple times toward Palomares. He was hit in the upper and lower body.
The suspect then left the scene in the car.
Anyone with information on either homicide is asked to call Fresno police at 559-621-7000.
This story was originally published October 30, 2021 at 6:47 AM.
