In celebration of selling their home, the owners of a Fowler property threw one last hoorah.
Many invited guests showed up, unfortunately so did some uninvited guests.
The party drifted into the early hours of the following day, Sunday December 15th.
Around 2AM, Lee Major III and other guests asked 20-year old Joseph Ornelas to leave the party.
Ornelas did not appreciate this request. The disagreement turned deadly when Ornelas engaged a firearm and began shooting.
Fowler Police officers and Fresno County Sheriff deputies responded to the shooting at the East Adams Avenue home.
Upon arriving they discovered three men, ranging in age from late teens to early 20s, suffering from gunshot wounds. The men were transported to the hospital. Two were treated and released, however 20-year old Major did not survive his injuries.
Fresno County Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives took over the case at the request of Fowler Police. They identified the suspect, Ornelas, from witness accounts and evidence analysis.
Ornelas was located and arrested on Monday 12/16/2019 by a FCSO deputy working as part of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force. Ornelas was booked at the Fresno County Jail. He could be charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder.
Photo from FCSO
