Police Shoot and Injure Suspect Wielding Gun

FRESNO – A suspect is in critical condition at the hospital after a Fresno police officer opened fire on him during a confrontation on Thursday night.

The incident happened around 7:30 p.m. when two officers were patrolling the area near Fruit and Saginaw Avenues as part of a routine gang check. Two gang shootings had happened in this area in the last month.

The officers approached a man and woman at a bus stop and tried to talk to them, but the man ignored them and walked out into oncoming traffic on Fruit Avenue. Officers managed to get the man back to the side of the road and then used a taser to try to stop him from making any more movements, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The suspect ran away and the officers pursued him. At some point, the suspect pulled out a loaded handgun from his pocket.

“The officer that was pursuing felt that he was about to be shot and fired one round at the suspect, striking him. The suspect fell to the ground and still had the handgun in his hand,” Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said.

The 32-year-old suspect was taken to the hospital where he is listed in critical condition. Although the suspect has not been identified, police say he is an ex-felon. The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave.

This is Fresno’s seventh officer-involved shooting so far this year. Last year, Fresno had a total of 11 officer-involved shootings.