EXCLUSIVE: New violence provides clues in Sheklian murder
Action News has learned investigators recently found one of the firearms after it was used in a Sacramento area shooting.
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Action News has learned of new developments in the investigation into the murder of an 85-year-old Fresno man during a gun store robbery.
Two months into the investigation, we've heard very little from police about progress in the case since the release of surveillance video. But a shooting in the Sacramento area has provided some new clues.
When the two robbers ran out of Fresno Firearms and knocked over a just-arriving George Sheklian, their crime may have escalated from robbery to murder. And in the bag carried by the second suspect out the door, they carried the 13 stolen, semi-automatic handguns that may have escalated their chances of getting caught.
"Number one, we were trying to find where those firearms were that were stolen and also trying to take advantage of some other tips that we received regarding who may be involved," Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said.
Action News has learned investigators recently found one of the firearms after it was used in a Sacramento area shooting. Police up there arrested the shooter and have questioned him to see if they could trace the weapon back to the men who stole it or a third person who was waiting for them a few blocks away with a second car. Fresno investigators say it was a good break in the case, but Chief Dyer says it's a small piece of a much bigger case.
"We knew that just because we might recover a firearm or two along the way," he said. "That may not point to the people responsible for the robbery and murder. But it is a lead that we needed and it's one of many leads we have that we are pursuing."
Dyer tells us he's confident they'll catch the killers. A $25,000 reward is still available for tips that help investigators make the arrests.
