Crime

CHP officer kills man who brandished gun, Fresno police say. Here’s what we know

A man who allegedly had a gun was killed Friday by a California Highway Patrol officer, Fresno police said.

The man, who was described as being in his late 20s or early 30s, was reported to have a gun near Highway 41 and Jensen Avenue about 8:40 a.m. Friday.

CHP officers arrived in the area a few minutes later as personnel in a helicopter relayed they had spotted the man and he was armed, Fresno police Lt. Paul Cervantes said in an update near the fatal scene around 11 a.m.

At some point, a single officer fired at the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel, Cervantes said.

“It is very preliminary,” Cervantes said. “We do not have an identification on the individual.”

The sole officer who fired has more than 15 years in law enforcement, Cervantes said, though he did not name the officer.

Cervantes said a “small amount of rounds” were fired, but stopped short of the exact number, citing a need to protect the investigation. It was not clear if the deceased man had fired his gun.

Cervantes said Fresno police would conduct the investigation.

Emergency personnel respond to a shooting near Highway 41 and Jensen Avenue on Friday, May 24, 2024.
Emergency personnel respond to a shooting near Highway 41 and Jensen Avenue on Friday, May 24, 2024. ANTHONY GALAVIZ agalaviz@fresnobee.com
Police investigators gather at the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Cherry Avenue south of Jensen in south Fresno on Friday, May 24, 2024.
Police investigators gather at the scene of an officer-involved shooting on Cherry Avenue south of Jensen in south Fresno on Friday, May 24, 2024. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com

This story was originally published May 24, 2024 at 11:58 AM.

Anthony Galaviz
The Fresno Bee
Anthony Galaviz writes about sports for The Fresno Bee. He covers the Las Vegas Raiders, high schools, boxing, MMA and junior colleges. He’s been with The Bee since 1997 and attended Fresno City College before graduating from Fresno State with a major in journalism and a minor in criminology. Support my work with a digital subscription
Thaddeus Miller
Merced Sun-Star
Reporter Thaddeus Miller has covered cities in the central San Joaquin Valley since 2010, writing about everything from breaking news to government and police accountability. A native of Fresno, he joined The Fresno Bee in 2019 after time in Merced and Los Banos.
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