Fresno Sergeant Who Pursued Suspect After Being Shot Is Released From Hospital
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File photograph shows police and emergency vehicles work at the scene of a shooting, in southeast Fresno, Calif., on Nov. 17, 2019. (Larry Valenzuela/AP)
By Kimberly Hayek
10/30/2024Updated: 11/16/2024

A sergeant who was shot multiple times on Oct. 26 while responding to a ShotSpotter call in southeast Fresno, in the San Joaquin Valley of California, has been released from hospital, the Fresno Police Department said on Wednesday.

Officers were alerted to a ShotSpotter activation near Platt Avenue and Eighth Street at about 5:23 p.m. on Oct. 26.

The police sergeant attended the scene, and while he was sitting in his patrol car at about 6:25 p.m., a man drove up and opened fire, striking both the patrol car and the sergeant multiple times, before driving away, police said.

The sergeant activated his body camera to record a short pursuit for about one block until the suspect spun out and exited the vehicle. A gun battle ensued.

“Numerous gunshots were fired, both from the suspect, from [the] sergeant involved, and about 49 seconds elapsed before another officer was able to arrive,” Interim Fresno PD Chief Mindy Casto said during a press conference on Monday.

Two other officers arrived on the scene and also fired at the suspect, Casto said. The officers began providing first aid to the sergeant, including applying tourniquets to prevent him from losing blood. The officers also provided the suspect with first aid after taking him into custody.

“Not only was [the suspect] firing rounds at him, he was repositioning himself multiple times, going to the ground, standing up, finding places of cover and concealment to prevent himself from being struck by gunfire, while the sergeant was engaging him,” Casto said.

Once the scene was secured, both the suspect and the sergeant were transported to the Community Regional Medical Center (CRMC). The suspect later died in hospital from his injuries.

Fresno police officers investigated the original ShotSpotter activation; they returned to the location of the initial shots and gained entry to a residence where they discovered the body of 43-year-old Mario Turner, Casto said.

“We located Mario inside with both gunshot wounds and stab wounds and a very vicious crime scene indeed,” she said. “We really don’t know what the conflict was on this particular day that resulted in Mario’s murder.”

The Fresno Police Department plans to release the body camera footage after investigations are completed. Casto says it shows the officers applying the tourniquet, reassuring the sergeant, keeping him conscious, and elevating his legs to prevent him from going into shock.

The injured sergeant is now recovering at home.

“We deeply appreciate his commitment to safeguarding our community and will do everything possible to support him and his family during this recovery process,” the Fresno Police Department said in a statement posted to social media on Wednesday. “Thank you to our many community members who have sent an outpouring of love and support for our sergeant, officers, and the department this week.” 

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