Teens accused of killing Clovis’ Caleb Quick named during court appearance
The two 16-year-olds accused in the premeditated killing of Clovis teen Caleb Quick made their first appearance in Fresno County court on Wednesday, but entered no plea.
The teens were identified publicly in court for the first time as Byron Rangel and Cassandra Michael during the hearing at Fresno County Juvenile Justice Campus. Judge Amythest Freeman denied requests from defense attorneys to withhold their names.
Rangel is accused of lying in wait before fatally shooting 18-year-old Quick, and Michael is accused of aiding the killing as the getaway driver, police have said.
The arraignments were continued to June 4 for Rangel and June 18 for Michael.
Neither teen spoke as they entered, sat and exited the courtroom in jailhouse clothing. The judge did not allow media to take photos or record any of the two separate hearings.
Each was also remanded into custody with the Fresno County Probation Department.
The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office has requested the court allow the teens be prosecuted as adults. The court did not make a determination on the request on Wednesday, and the DA’s office said it’s unclear when the court could make that decision.
That kind of decision can linger. A case involving a 17-year-old accused of quadruple homicide in Reedley in January 2024 is ongoing, and the court has not yet determined if he should be tried as an adult.
Teens accused of public shooting
Michael has showed no history of being in any trouble, and was known to live within the rules her parents set out for her, according to Jeff Hammerschimdt, her defense attorney.
Hammerschmidt said he was given hundreds of pages of discovery by the prosecution and, though he has not finished reading all of it, the documents suggest his client had no knowledge of a firearm.
“Her grades were good. They weren’t great, but they were good. They were mainly B’s. Her attendance at school was good, no disciplinary problems in school,” Hammerschmidt said. “The parents, all three parents, said they haven’t had disciplinary problems with her. So there’s nothing in her past that suggests she would intentionally be part of a murder that involved a firearm and a killing in public.”
Michael’s family attended Wednesday’s court hearing. One woman sobbed briefly as Michael was led out and back into the juvenile hall.
Rangel’s attorney was not immediately available for comment after the hearing.
Alleged killer lied in wait to shoot Caleb Quick
Officers arrived outside a McDonald’s at Willow and Nees avenues shortly before 9 p.m. April 23, and found Quick with at least one gunshot wound to the side of his head. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died.
That fast-food location was known to be a popular gathering place for teens, and Quick was there with friends, police said. Once a Buchanan High student, Quick more recently attended Clovis Online School, which is not connected to any specific Clovis school campus.
Investigators have not given any specific motives behind the killing, but said the teens knew each other. The accused shooter arrived at the McDonald’s, watched Quick and followed the 18-year-old outside before gunning him down, police said.
Police seized a Tesla on May 9 they believed was connected to the shooting and, a few days later, arrested two suspects who had turned themselves in.
This story was originally published May 14, 2025 at 4:14 PM.
