13-year-old arrested for deadly shooting of 19-year-old in northwest Fresno, police say

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Fresno Police Department is investigating a deadly shooting that left 19-year-old Edgar Hernandez dead and led to the arrest of a 13-year-old boy.

Investigators believe the 13-year-old was responsible for the shooting. The boy was booked into the Juvenile Justice Campus on a manslaughter charge rather than homicide as the investigation continues.

Action News Legal Analyst Tony Capozzi said a variety of factors could influence how the case is ultimately classified.

"The juvenile reacted in terms of heat of passion, or he may have been acting in self-defense and thinking that he was going to be murdered, and instead murdered the victim in this particular case. There are so many things that could come into different degrees of murder," Capozzi said.

A local resident, Bill Scott, said the violence was unexpected in the neighborhood, where he has lived for the past 10 years.

"I'm not afraid of it but it makes me sad that something like that went down with young people, and that somebody had to pay the price for whatever negligence was going on," Scott said.

Scott, who has also worked as an educator for 20 years, encouraged parents and community leaders to stay involved in children's lives.

Capozzi noted the case will remain in the juvenile justice system due to the suspect's age and said the boy could face years of rehabilitation.

"It's surprising that a 13-year-old would commit this crime, but it's happened throughout the country. But again, how do you handle someone who's a 13-year-old? He cannot be taken over to adult court. He cannot be taken into criminal action. This is gonna stay in the juvenile court," Capozzi said.

Police described the shooting as an isolated incident. Detectives continue to investigate what led up to it and are asking anyone with information to contact the Fresno Police Department.

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