HANFORD, CA — A Kings County man has been arrested for alleged murder and attempted murder in connection with a shooting earlier this month.
According to a press release from the City of Hanford, local police officers responded on the night of February 6 to a report of a shooting in the parking lot of an In-N-Out restaurant.
Upon arrival, officers located a white SUV that had crashed in the parking lot. Inside the vehicle, they found a passenger with an apparent gunshot wound and no signs of life.
The individual, later identified as 23-year-old Daniel Dawson of Lemoore, was pronounced decease at the scene, authorities said.
The driver of the vehicle also suffered a gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Authorities stated that the driver is not expected to survive.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing a male suspect fleeing from the vehicle toward 12th Avenue, according to authorities.
Detectives worked overnight to collect evidence and interview witnesses. Through their investigation, they identified Rafael Estrada, 27, of Hanford, as a suspect.
With assistance from the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, investigators from the Hanford Police Department Street Crimes Unit tracked Estrada to an apartment complex in Goshen. Authorities confirmed his identity as he exited a vehicle in the parking lot of the complex and took him into custody.
Investigators are still working to determine a motive for the shooting.
Estrada was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and booked at the Kings County jail.
