Gang Retaliation Threatened after Officer Shoots Murder Suspect

by Elizabeth Warmerdam , April 1, 2013

FRESNO – Police Chief Jerry Dyer said gang members have threatened to retaliate against the Fresno Police Department after police shot a key suspect in a gang-related homicide on Sunday.

The officer-involved shooting happened near Arthur and Strother avenues Sunday morning. The suspect who was shot by police was involved in two violent incidents around 3 a.m. Friday morning. One of the incidents left a 23-year-old man dead at 4140 N. Clark St. and the second incident involved assault with a deadly weapon that night.

Detectives searching for the suspect found his vehicle at a home in the 1900 block of East Pico Avenue on Sunday afternoon, which was less than a mile from Friday morning’s murder scene. The detectives followed the suspect when he left the location, Dyer said.

Officers tried to pull the suspect over on Highway 99, but the suspect exited the freeway and a police pursuit began. The chase ultimately ended near Arthur and Strother avenues when officers crashed into the suspect’s vehicle and forced it to spin out. The suspect got out of the car and started running, Dyer said.

“Two officers gave chase and at some point, according to the officers, the suspect made some sort of movement that caused the officers to believe he was arming himself,” Dyer said. “The officers did, in fact, fire their weapons at the suspect.”

Dyer has yet to identify the suspect, but said he is a known gang member. Family members have identified the suspect as Jerel Stanfield. The suspect was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Dyer said a gun was found on the suspect after he was arrested.

After the officer-involved shooting, police received multiple reports that gang members had armed themselves and “made it well-known that they are going to shoot a Fresno police officer,” Dyer said.

Police are taking the threats seriously. They have called in additional resources, including SWAT teams, and Dyer said more action is planned as well.

Fresno Bee: Fresno Police Shoot Murder Suspect, Gangs Threaten to Retaliate

ABC30: FPD Pursuit Leads to Officer-Involved Shooting

Gang Retaliation Threatened after Officer Shoots Murder Suspect was last modified: January 14th, 2019 by admin

Categories: Fresno

About Author

Elizabeth Warmerdam

Beth Warmerdam is a freelance journalist based out of Reedley. She graduated from Fresno State in 2004 with a BA in print journalism and has worked for several newspapers and magazines. In addition to writing, Beth enjoys being a stay-at-home mom, trying to keep up with her 2-year-old son, Zachary.