Around 4:30 am on Monday, a man (later identified as the suspect) made a 911 call to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office to report a group of 10 unknown people were inside his home.
Sheriff’s deputies responded the house located on the 3400 block of E. Terrace Ave. in Fresno. Deputies went to the front door and made contact with 45 year old Refugio Alvarez, the man who had called. Alvarez answered the door holding a handgun and a machete. Deputies ordered Alvarez to drop his weapons, but he refused to do so. A deputy deployed their Taser and struck the suspect, but it was ineffective. Alvarez advanced toward deputies while still holding the machete. Deputies fired multiple rounds from their duty firearms, striking the suspect. Deputies immediately supplied medical aid to the suspect while waiting for additional emergency medical personnel to arrive. Alvarez was then transported to Community Regional Medical Center and died a short time later at the hospital.
There were a total of five other residents at home during the shooting. This included two adults and three small children, none of whom were injured. Deputies never located any possible intruders as first reported by the suspect.
Fresno County Sheriff’s detectives are interviewing witnesses and serving a search warrant at the home in order to collect evidence.
The deputies involved will be placed on paid administrative leave. None of the deputies were injured.
An autopsy and toxicology testing are being scheduled for Refugio Alvarez.
Anyone who has additional information on this case is asked to contact Detective Matt Hamilton at (559) 600-8210.
