1 killed, 1 injured in shooting outside Southeast Fresno apartment complex

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A man who friends say was turning his life around is dead, and authorities are trying to figure out who targeted two men outside a Southeast Fresno apartment complex.

The shooting of Robert Yost happened Friday morning near Phillip and Beck avenues. Fresno police say he was standing in a breezeway with his longtime friend when both were shot. Yost died a short time later.

Police say they already have one challenge: a lack of witnesses. The shooting happened before 4 a.m., and although it woke many people up, there are likely few if any who witnessed the actual crime.

For more than eight hours after the murder, Fresno police were still collecting evidence in the neighborhood behind a shopping center at Kings Canyon Road and Clovis Avenue. Officers aren't sure if the suspect walked up or drove by, but some evidence was left behind that investigators are trying to link to either the suspect or victims.

"We're trying to piecemeal what happened. There was other items that were left, so we're trying to figure out what happened out there, who was out there with these guys," said Lt. Mark Salazar with the Fresno Police Department.

Yost was an electrician and tattoo artist at Epidemic Ink in the Tower District. Friends said he was the kind of man who would give you his last $10 if you needed it. A video Yost posted on his Facebook recently showed him dancing in the tattoo shop.

Friends said his murder was shocking, and neighbors who live near the murder scene said waking up to gunfire was surprising to them. Kevin Cotter opened his eyes right away and noted how the gunman fired several rounds.

"When it went, it was like pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. He was in no hurry to pull that trigger. He just took his time with them," said Cotter.

Investigators are looking to see if any neighbors have surveillance cameras, or if anyone else was up at that hour and outside. Officers say the surviving victim has a long criminal past and several recent drug arrests. Detectives plan to spend the weekend canvassing the neighborhood and knocking on doors, looking for leads and a motive.

Investigators are hoping the shooting victim will help lead them to the suspect. So far, no arrests have been made.