Gang member injured in officer-involved shooting, Fresno Police say

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- An armed man was shot early Sunday by officers with the Fresno Police Department after a short pursuit, according to Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer.

Neighbors heard loud noises in the middle of the night as police shot the man they'd been chasing near Fresno City College.

A driveway fence near Clinton and Van Ness Avenues was marked with bullets from the officer-involved shooting.

"It happened and it was over so fast that shooting, thank God," the neighbor who did not want to be identified said.

Police say 25-year-old Sawon Samboon was driving his car down the wrong side of the road. Two officers patrolling together tried to pull him over, but he didn't stop and eventually crashed the car he was in and taking off on foot.

"The driver of that vehicle was armed with a handgun," Dyer said. "Both officers got out of the vehicle gave pursuit on foot and fired their weapons at the individual striking him."

Investigators say Samboon is a familiar face. According to police, he's affiliated with a local gang and has had previous run-ins with police.

Raul Melena has lived in the neighborhood for two years with his three kids, and he says this is a first.

"It's a pretty quiet neighborhood," Melena said. "Don't really see any strange cars or strange people walking around here, it's usually the people from the neighborhood."

Now the only strange thing here are the blood stains in the driveway where the neighbor, whose fence was riddled with bullets, has lived for 40 years.

"It's a reminder that what happened right there in my driveway but you know what can you do," she said.