FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Crime may be down in Fresno but murder is up, with 37 this year, it’s almost as many as in all of 2016.
Three shootings this week have left two men dead in less than 24 hours.
A 49-year old Hispanic man was killed on the 2200 block of East Tyler near Clark around 4:30p.m.Wednesday, July 5th, and then just two and a half hours later, a man in his 20s was gunned down at 300 East Jensen according to Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer it was possibly over drugs.
“They’re not related to one another, they do not involve any type of retaliatory type feuds or ongoing feuds between gang members, they’re isolated incidents and we believe we know the motive on both of those cases.” -Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer.
Then at 1:50a.m. Thursday, July 6th, gunshots sent a 26-year-old man to the hospital in critical condition, the crime scene – Parkway and White – known for human trafficking and prostitution, and Fresno’s Police Chief believes it may have involved gang members. Violence continues in the City of Fresno even after a pledge by Chief Dyer and Mayor Lee Brand to work to stop it, specifically targeting gangs, but Chief Dyer says its going to take time and the community’s involvement and support, along with the police department’s efforts.
“We’re going to increase number of officers out in the field, utilize a significant amount of overtime, and redirecting other units in the department to focus on gang activity.” -Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer.
Chief Dyer says Crimestoppers (498-STOP) is also key in the fight to recapture the city, as tips are often vital to help solve crime cases.
Click below to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
