Photo: jacob Rangel
Fresno Police Officers of the Central District were called to the area off Farris and Olive Avenues the afternoon of November 20, 2020. The scene they arrived upon was of a man lying on Farris Avenue after being shot in the upper body. He was identified as 53-year old Jose Luis Rivera. The Community Regional Medical Center admitted Rivera for treatment but he passed
away due to his injury shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Homicide detectives assumed the case. They discovered a suspect in a dark colored, mid-size SUV pulled up beside Rivera as he transported his food cart via his tricycle on Farris Avenue; Rivera was a mobile food vender. The suspect shot Rivera then fled southbound on Farris in the described vehicle.
Recently, four search warrants were served at several residences, including one in Madera County. The suspect, identified as 18-year old Jacob Rangel was arrested on December 1, 2020.
Fresno Police Chief Andy Hall stated Rangel confirmed during an interview with detectives he had a dispute with Rivera the day he was shot and gave a full confession of his involvement regarding the shooting. Rangel is also said to have told detectives he was upset he did not have enough funds to purchase all the items he wanted from the food vendor. The gun believed used
in the shooting was also confiscated.
Rangel does not have gang ties or a criminal history but now he faces murder charges. As of the time of this writing, he is in custody at the Fresno County Jail.
Photo from the Fresno Police Department
