Home invasion robbery suspect shot by officers in Fresno State parking lot confrontation
A home invasion robbery suspect was shot by Fresno police officers in a Fresno State parking lot Sunday morning.
Interim Police Chief Mindy Casto said the home invasion happened at an apartment complex in the 4800 block of Backer Avenue, near Shaw Avenue, at 7:18 a.m. Three suspects pulled up in a vehicle in the quad area between the apartments and the pedestrian area and jumped out wearing masks.
The suspects then pounded on the door and identified themselves as police before going inside where they took a large safe.
As officers were arriving, they confronted the suspects, Casto said, when the driver “nearly ran him over.”
Shots were fired by the officers. It’s unknown if the suspect fired back as detectives will investigate, but the suspects continued to flee in the vehicle where the officers ended deploying a pursuit intervention technique to it, which they did at the Fresno State parking lot near the Smittcamp Alumni House and Joyal Administration building off Maple Avenue.
The suspect driver jumped out before shots were fired by the officers.
The driver was struck and taken to a local hospital. His condition is unknown.
The passenger in the back seat was not injured and was arrested.
A K-9 was deployed and a rifle was found in the vehicle, Casto said.
Police are trying to identify a third suspect who fled from the apartments.
Casto said the safe was left behind at the home. Only one person was inside the apartment and was not injured.
Casto said the three suspects were also wearing vests.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 559-621-7000.
This story was originally published January 26, 2025 at 2:08 PM.
