Officer shot in 'ambush' after murder in southeast Fresno, interim Chief says
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Fresno Police Department is investigating an officer-involved shooting and a homicide in southeast Fresno.
Interim Chief Mindy Casto says several officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation in a neighborhood near Platt Avenue and Eighth Street, just behind Jackson Elementary School, around 5 pm on Saturday. They would ultimately find a man in the area dead from a gunshot wound.
As they were investigating, the suspect drove by officers at around 6:30 pm and began shooting at them, hitting a Sergeant as he sat in his patrol vehicle.
At least a dozen gunshots can be heard whizzing through the air in an exclusive video obtained by Action News.
WARNING: The following footage may be disturbing to some. Viewer discretion is advised.
Casto described the shooting as an ambush and said the suspect fired at a close distance.
The Sergeant, a 21-year veteran of the department, was rushed to Community Regional Medical Center in Downtown Fresno, where he is being treated for injuries to his lower body.
The suspect was injured when officers returned fire and died at the hospital.
At this time, it's unclear how the suspect and homicide victim might've known each other.
Chief Casto says the investigation is still ongoing and expects investigators to be on the scene throughout the night as they try to piece everything together.
