5-year-old shot at Fresno party: suspect wanted, police say
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The man who police say allegedly shot a five-year-old boy, a 17-year-old male, and a 27-year-old woman at a party in Fresno over the weekend is now wanted by Fresno Police, according to the department.
Officers say the suspect, 41-year-old Angel Espinoza, is wanted on suspicion of five counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
According to police, the incident was first reported around 8 p.m. on Saturday, when officers responded to a home in the 4400 block of East Hedges Avenue about a five-year-old being shot. They responded and found that the five-year-old had been taken to the hospital – but two other victims of the shooting, a 17-year-old male, and a 27-year-old woman, were still at the home. The other two victims were also taken to the hospital.
“They determined that the 5-year-old was driven to the hospital, and they also discovered that there were two other victims, a 17-year-old male and a 27-year-old female. All of the victims were transported to the hospital, thankfully their injuries were all non life threatening,” said Officer Christopher Clark with Fresno Police.
Investigators say that there was a party at the home and one of the people there, Juvenal Espinoza, got into a fight and eventually left – only to return with two of his brothers who then started another fight at the home. One of the brothers, 41-year-old Angel Espinoza, allegedly pulled out a gun and began shooting into the crowd, according to police.
Officers say Angel Espinoza shot the three victims (the 5-year-old, the 17-year-old, and the 27-year-old) and also struck his two brothers in the process.
“Angel Espinoza withdrew a handgun and shot into the group of subjects fighting. Not only did Angel shoot the three victims that were initially reported, but he also struck his two other brothers,” Clark said.
Following the shooting, police say the three brothers fled in a vehicle. Of the three brothers, 39-year-old Juvenal Espinoza was contacted at the hospital where he was receiving treatment for a gunshot wound and was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy, the second brother was interviewed and not arrested, and 41-year-old Angel Espinoza (the third brother) is now wanted by police.
None of the gunshots sustained in the incident were life-threatening, officers say.
“Angel is still outstanding. He is wanted on charges of the shooting, charges related to the shooting on five counts,” Clark said
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Fresno Police Department Felony Assault Detective Daniel Mallery at (559) 621-2446.
