Crime

One killed, another critically injured in shooting outside private party in Fresno

One man was killed and a second critically injured late Sunday when they were shot outside a hookah lounge in northwest Fresno.

Fresno Police responded to multiple calls for service around 10:46 p.m. regarding a gunshot victim near a restaurant that shares the parking lot with the lounge at Milburn and Herndon avenues, police said.

“Officers located a male adult, don’t know his exact age, possibly 20s or 30s, with apparent gunshot wounds to his chest,” Fresno Police Lt. Israel Reyes said. “Officers performed life-saving measures on this individual until they were relieved by American Ambulance personnel. Unfortunately, the individual was pronounced deceased here on scene.

“While officers were here, we did receive information that a second victim of a shooting from this incident was being transported by either family or friends to a local hospital. At that point, we dispatched officers to several locations here in Fresno to hopefully intercept whoever dropped off the individual. Fortunately, we were at (Community Regional Medical Center) when our second victim arrived at the hospital, the emergency room. He also sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed into surgery.”

The second victim of the shooting was listed in critical condition, police said. The violence marks the fourth homicide in Fresno this year.

Police in the early stages of their investigation had no information on a suspect, or a motive for the shooting, they said.

“When officers arrived it was a very chaotic scene,” Reyes said, describing the event inside the hookah lounge as “some type of private party.”

“There was some type of disturbance outside, gunshots were heard and one of our shooting victims entered the business and collapsed. It was at that point individuals started hearing more gunshots.”

It also is unknown if the shooting victims were guests at the party.

It was the second shooting of the evening in the city. Just before 5:30 p.m., three men were wounded during a confrontation outisde a southeast Fresno home. There was no indication the crimes were connected.

Evidence markers are placed at Herndon Place at Milburn Avenue after one person was killed and another critically injured in Fresno, California on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023.
Evidence markers are placed at Herndon Place at Milburn Avenue after one person was killed and another critically injured in Fresno, California on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. ANTHONY GALAVIZ agalaviz@fresnobee.com
One person was killed and another critically injured in a shooting at a Hookah Lounge at a northwest Fresno shopping center in Fresno, California on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023.
One person was killed and another critically injured in a shooting at a Hookah Lounge at a northwest Fresno shopping center in Fresno, California on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. ANTHONY GALAVIZ agalaviz@fresnobee.com
Police tape up the parking lot at Herndon Place at Milburn Avenue after one person was shot and killed and another critically injured at a Hookah Lounge in Fresno, California on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023.
Police tape up the parking lot at Herndon Place at Milburn Avenue after one person was shot and killed and another critically injured at a Hookah Lounge in Fresno, California on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. ANTHONY GALAVIZ agalaviz@fresnobee.com
Police tape up the parking lot at Herndon Place at Milburn Avenue after one person was shot and killed and and another critically injured on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023.
Police tape up the parking lot at Herndon Place at Milburn Avenue after one person was shot and killed and and another critically injured on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. ANTHONY GALAVIZ agalaviz@fresnobee.com

This story was originally published February 20, 2023 at 5:55 AM.

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