Hung jury in trial of 2020 Fresno murder of Joshua Thao

Tuesday, August 19, 2025
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Fresno County jury could not reach a unanimous verdict in a murder case that's taken five years to get to court.

Late Monday afternoon, a hung jury was declared in the Damion Salinas case.

RELATED: Trial in 2020 murder winds down, defense raises concerns with evidence submission

He had pleaded not guilty in the shooting death of Joshua Thao.

Investigators believe Salinas shot Thao in the chest after an argument at a crash site.



Prosecutors say Thao had stopped to help friends involved in the collision.

RELATED: Jury begins deliberating in 2020 Fresno murder of Joshua Thao

During closing arguments, prosecutors insisted it's a clear case of murder.

Salinas' defense claimed the DA's office cherry-picked the evidence presented in court.
Copyright © 2026 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.