FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A 16-year-old has been arrested on attempted murder charges following a shooting early Sunday in Fresno’s Tower District that injured two people, according to Fresno Police.
Police said officers responded shortly after midnight to a shooting near Olive and Broadway. Video from the scene captured people scrambling for safety as gunfire erupted.
RELATED: 16-year-old arrested for weekend double shooting in Fresno’s Tower District, chief says
One neighbor, whose home is behind the MIA and Vibez nightclubs and who asked not to be identified, said the sound of gunfire woke her.
“About 12:15, I heard six shots,” she said.
She said the gunfire continued moments later.
“The music stopped, then I heard about three more.”
The neighbor described the scene that followed.
“People were running and screaming,” she said.
Another resident who lives nearby said the shooting was alarming because of its proximity.
About 12 hours after the shooting, Fresno Police arrested a 16-year-old boy at his home in Fowler. The teen is now facing attempted murder charges.
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said city leaders want to discourage people from coming to the area intending to cause problems.
“What we don’t want is people coming to the Tower District that are there for the purpose of looking for trouble,” Mayor Dyer said.
Paul Cruikshank, owner of Ragin’ Records, said the current approach to public safety in the district is not working.
“It’s broken if 16-year-olds are shooting and bystanders are getting hit,” Cruikshank said.
On Monday morning, the city announced several changes aimed at improving safety, including adding loading zones on Olive Avenue from Palm Avenue to Van Ness Avenue and assigning additional police officers in front of Vibez, MIA and Bobby Salazar’s.
Cruikshank said the changes are urgently needed.
“It’s critical. It’s now or never,” he said.
Residents will have two opportunities to voice concerns and share ideas about improving safety in the Tower District during community meetings scheduled for Wednesday evening.
A Tower District Community Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21 at 5:30 PM at the Tower Theater (815 E. Olive Ave., Fresno).
