Shooting at River Park: Two groups get into altercation, leading to shots being fired

Shots were fired Saturday night at River Park, causing panic among patrons at the popular northeast Fresno shopping center and stores to lock down.

Fresno Police said the shooting was an isolated incident, and emphasized that it was not an active shooter situation.

Lt. Brian Valles said a verbal altercation broke out between two groups around 8 p.m. and one of the individuals involved fired 2-3 shots in front of the Famous Footwear store, which is just around the corner from the Regal Cinema Theater.

No one was injured in the shooting on site, and police said they had not received any notification of a shooting victim being admitted at a local hospital.

The shooting caused chaos with several shoppers screaming and fleeing from the scene.

Nearby stores went into lockdown until they were notified by police that it was safe to reopen.

Police had no preliminary information regarding the two groups involved in the altercation nor a description of the shooter.

All members of the two groups were believed to have fled the scene, police added.

Valles said no stores were damaged in the shooting, but an unoccupied truck was struck by a bullet, which resulted in a flat tire.

Reports of the shooting prompted a large police response to River Park.

By about 9:30 p.m., Valles said the shopping center was reopened and police remained on the scene to help maintain peace.

“The mall has been rendered safe,” Valles said. “There was not an active shooter.

“This incident is an isolated incident. ... We’re fortunate that that no one was hit.”

Saturday was the third shooting incident to occur at River Park this year.

In March, a man was shot near Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

Then in May, an off-duty deputy fired at a suspect vehicle near Macy’s.

This story was originally published July 16, 2022 at 9:05 PM.