Around 1:00 pm on Wednesday, an officer with the California Highway Patrol was handling a traffic stop on Highway 145, just south of W. Excelsior Ave. in Five Points.
During this time, the driver of a Honda Fit, heading north on Hwy. 145, abruptly crossed over the southbound lane and stopped next to the CHP officer. The officer then heard three young men in the Honda shouting that they had just been shot. The officer radioed for assistance from deputies with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and EMS personnel. The officer found an 18 year old passenger with a bullet wound to his forearm and a 17 year old with a bullet wound to his buttocks. The 17 year old lost consciousness and the officer performed CPR, successfully reviving the young man. A medical helicopter transported the 17 year old and an ambulance took the 18 year old. Both went to the hospital in Hanford. The 17 year old later died there. He has been identified as Gregory Sanchez, 17, of Coalinga.
Homicide detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene to begin an investigation. According to the driver of the victim’s car, he was driving south on Highway 145. When he approached S. Yuba Ave., a car pulled alongside side him and began shooting at his car. After noticing his passengers were injured, the man turned around and headed back toward the CHP officer for help. He recalled seeing the officer just moments earlier handling a traffic stop.
A motive for this shooting has not been established. However, this attack is not considered random and is possibly gang-related.
We would like to ask anyone in the public who was driving that route of Hwy. 145 between Highway 269 and Yuba Ave. around 1:00 pm to contact us if they saw any unusual behavior occur between the victims’ gray Honda Fit and another vehicle on the road. This may help give us a better description of the suspect’s vehicle.
Anyone with additional information on this case is asked to contact the Fresno Sheriff’s Office at (559) 600-3111, Detective Jose Mora at (559) 600-8205 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP (7867), www.valleycrimestoppers.org You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. You may reference case # 20-545.
