Photo: Fernando Fernandez and Trinidad Loera
A 16-year old boy was spending family time at Fresno County’s Avocado Lake on the evening of June 9th. During a swim, he was approached by another teenager inquiring about his gang status.
The 16-year old told the teen he did not belong to any gang. As the victim was exiting the lake, two more young men approached him and the confrontation turned argumentative, then physical.
At some point during the 3-on-1 fight, the 16-year old boy was stabbed in the back with a knife. The three suspects fled the scene in a car, leaving the 16-year old victim bleeding on the ground. The boy was treated at the scene by emergency medical responders and firefighters before being transported to a hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Fresno County Deputies spoke to several witnesses at the lake who provided them with valuable details about the suspects, all who have gang ties.
With this information, they were able to quickly identify and stop the vehicle carrying the three suspects during a traffic stop near Highway 180 and Frankwood Avenue.
The suspects are 18-year old Trinidad Loera and 18-year old Fernando Fernandez from Orange Cove. They were booked into Fresno County Jail, on a charge of with assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm. Fernandez’s bail is set at $55,000, and Loera’s is set at $20,000.
The third suspect is a 16-year old from Reedley who was booked into the Fresno County Juvenile Justice Center for an assault with a deadly weapon charge.
