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The victims and the suspect have not been identified. But the family of the one man killed in this shooting spree, says he and his wife were just heading to the store, when they got caught in the gunfire. And now police say an off-duty corrections officer is the hero that potentially saved more lives.
Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer says the suspect crashed a white van, left his two passengers inside. Then he carjacked a woman and forced her to drive to a liquor store on Shaw and Polk in Northwest Fresno. Dyer says the woman escaped when the suspect went into the store.
"He then attempts to carjack a minivan," said Chief Dyer. "Shoots the male driver."
The driver of that van sped off after being shot and crashed less than a mile later on the southbound 99 onramp.
Chief Dyer added, "Then attempts to carjack a pickup truck. Shoots the driver, kills him and shoots his wife."
The innocent victim, a man in his 60's died in his driver's seat. His terrified wife was rushed to the hospital with non-life threatening gunshot wounds.
Chief Dyer says after shooting at other cars he finally forced a man and his five-year-old little brother out of an SUV. That's when an armed off duty corrections officer stepped into action.
"He was armed, he approached the suspect and began to fire at the suspect as he got into the vehicle," explained Chief Dyer.
The now injured suspect sped off, crashing the stolen SUV several miles away at Shaw and Jameson. Police say he likely died of his gunshot wounds at that third scene.
