Suspect dead after shooting involving Fresno Police, Chief Casto says

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A 42-year-old man is dead following a shooting involving at least two Fresno police officers Friday morning after a disturbance call at a family home in southeast Fresno, authorities said.

Police say officers were called just after 11:30 a.m. to a home near 11th Street and Burns Avenue regarding a disturbance involving the family's son, who had arrived armed with a gun.

Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto said officers attempted to de-escalate the situation before gunfire erupted.

"They immediately attempted to establish verbal contact with him which they did and they spoke with him and tried to get him to put the gun down for nearly half an hour or so before shots were fired," said Chief Mindy Casto of the Fresno Police Department.

Authorities say the situation escalated when the man pulled out his weapon, leading officers to open fire.

Neighbors in the area described the situation as tense and chaotic as gunfire broke out.

Crystal Reyna said she and her father were inside their home when they heard the shooting.

"But then we heard 'Stop running, stop running, you're going to get shot!' Then we heard five other rounds and just automatic gunfire," Reyna said.

Officers secured the area and made their way inside the home.

"They were able to get a drone overhead to verify the individual was down and there was a firearm next to him in the backyard," Casto said.

SWAT paramedics then declared the man dead at the scene.

Investigators were seen going in and out of a home on Friday afternoon as they continued gathering evidence. Police say they are reviewing body camera footage, witness statements, and other evidence as part of the investigation.

Reyna said the intensity of the gunfire was alarming.

"There was a lot of gunfire. At first I thought it was just construction workers but it sounds like gunshots, but then I go out and I'm like 'Oh it is gunshots!'" she said.

The incident also prompted a lockdown at nearby Calwa Elementary School, raising concerns among parents.

"I told my husband, 'I'm going to go and pick up our daughter because I don't want her at school right now," said parent Corina Del Rosa.

"It is scary having your littlest one having her first lockdown ever. My heart was racing thinking about her and her too."

Police said there is no active threat to the public. No officers were injured in the shooting.

Authorities also noted that this is the first officer-involved shooting involving the discharge of a Fresno police officer's firearm this year. By this time last year, there had been four such shootings involving Fresno police.