12-year-old boy Unintended Victim of Shooting in Fresno, on Life Support

FRESNO – A young boy was shot on Tuesday night and is now fighting for his life in the hospital – while his shooter remains on the loose.

4625 E. Illinois Ave.

The incident happened around 9 p.m. at a home at 4625 E. Illinois Ave, near Backer Avenue. The boy was inside the home with another dozen or so people when a man walked up to the house and started firing shots, police said. The gunman then jumped in a waiting vehicle and took off.

The 12-year-old boy, who attends a Fresno Unified School, was hit by a bullet in the upper chest and is now on life support at Community Regional Medical Center. No one else was injured.

Police do not believe that the shooting was a random act; however, they say the boy was probably not the intended target. Detectives are trying to determine who the intended target was, which will then give them more leads as to who was responsible for the shooting.

The home is known to be a prior gang house and violent gang activity has happened in that location in the past, authorities said. Police do not know whether that was a factor in Tuesday’s shooting.

The Fresno Police Department has made this case a top priority, with a dozen detectives working to solve it. Cameras in the area, including one at the intersection of Tulare and Cedar avenues, may help police in their investigation. They also have a description of the vehicle involved in the shooting.

Anyone who has information on this case is encouraged to call Fresno Police Detective Tony Rivera at (559) 621-2445.

Read More:

ABC 30: 12-Year-Old Boy Shot in East Central Fresno

KMPH26: 12-Year-Old Boy Shot in Fresno, Shooter on the Loose

FresnoBee: Boy, 12, on Life Support After SE Fresno Shooting