17-year-old gang member arrested for shooting at Millerton Lake, deputies say
Detectives believe the 16-year-old girl was a friend of the shooter. She tried to break up the argument and got hit by accident.
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- An argument between a 17-year-old boy and a 31-year-old man at Millerton Lake escalated into a shooting that left the man and a teenage girl in the hospital on Sunday.
Fresno County Sheriff's deputies say the shooting happened at about 6:30 pm on the western side of the popular Fresno County recreation area at the Crow's Nest Boat Launch.
When gunfire rang out, what started as families spending a peaceful Sunday evening at the lake turned into a scene of chaos and panic as people tried to flee in different directions.
Investigators say the 17-year-old boy is a gang member.
They say he got into a verbal argument with the 31-year-old man at the park, then pulled out a gun and shot him.
Detectives believe the 16-year-old girl was a friend of the 17-year-old shooter. She tried to break up the argument and got hit by gunfire by accident.
Both the girl and the man are expected to survive their injuries.
The teen suspect has been booked into Juvenile Hall on charges of attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, illegal possession of a firearm and child endangerment.
Fresno County sheriff's detectives had earlier said the male victim is believed to be a gang associate of the suspect deputies detained, but said on Monday that was incorrect.
The sheriff's office gave credit to the state park rangers, who were the first to respond.
"Unfortunate incident, I mean family-friendly place, and to have it ruined by gang members coming here. It's just terrible. I mean it's ridiculous to see stuff play out like this. You go to the lake to get away from the garbage like that in the city of the shootings and the gangs, and to have to experience that when you're on a boat ramp," said Fresno County Sheriff's spokesperson Tony Botti.
Several dozen people were held for questioning.
If you have any information or video on the incident, you are urged to contact the Fresno County Sheriff's Office at 559-600-3111.
NOTE: The video above is from an earlier story and will be updated.
