The suspect killed during an officer involved shooting (OIS) has been identified as 36 year old Carlos Baires of Orange Cove.
Shortly after 12:30 pm Tuesday, detectives with the Fresno HEAT (Help Eliminate Auto Theft) Task Force approached a stolen vehicle in a parking lot near Ventura and Hazelwood in Fresno. As undercover law enforcement vehicles attempted to box in the suspect, he reversed out of the parking lot and used his car to ram a detective's vehicle. A woman who was a passenger in the suspect's car was able to safely get out. Detectives surrounded the car and gave commands for the unknown suspect to surrender. Instead, he sped forward through the parking lot and rammed a detective's vehicle again. A California Highway Patrol officer and a Fresno County Sheriff's deputy fired their handguns at the suspect, striking him. Detectives removed the suspect from the driver's seat and began to give him CPR. An ambulance arrived and transported him to the hospital where he later died.
Baires got out of prison earlier this year. He was sentenced in 2016 as a result of a HEAT investigation. Charges were auto theft, evading, etc. As of Tuesday, he was a PAL (parolee at large) and had an active bench warrant for drug possession.
Additionally, Baires currently had an active warrant out of the Dinuba Police Dept. It was for attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon (not a firearm) and carjacking.
This OIS remains an ongoing investigation, which is being conducted by the Fresno Police Department. If anyone has information, photos or videos that can help detectives with this case, please contact Fresno Police at (559) 621-2456. You may also contact Valley Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867 or www.valleycrimestoppers.org
