On November 17, 2019, a mass shooting occurred at a Fresno, California football watch party with 35 to 40 attendees where four people were fatally shot and six others were injured.[1][2]
| Part of mass shootings in the United States | |
  Fresno Fresno (California)  Fresno Fresno (the United States) | |
| Date | November 17, 2019 |
|---|---|
| Time | 6:00 p.m. PST (0200 UTC) |
| Location | Fresno, California |
| Type | Mass shooting |
| Motive | Unknown |
| Deaths | 4 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 6 |
| Suspects | 7 |
Incident
editThe shooting happened in a backyard of a home when a group of friends and families were holding a football watch party, to watch the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Chicago Bears.[1] The party was composed of about 35 to 40 friends and family members of the home owner in attendance.[3] At some point during the party the women and children attending the party had moved inside to watch TV, while 16 men stayed outside to continue watching the football game.[4] At least two suspects snuck through an unlocked gate of the home around 6:00 pm PST and opened fire indiscriminately before they fled on foot.[5]
Victims
editThe deceased victims were all men between the ages of 23 and 40 years old.[1] Three men were pronounced dead at the scene while another was transported to Community Regional Medical Center where he died of his injuries. Two of the deceased were well-known Southeast Asian singers.[6]
Five others were treated with non-life-threatening wounds at the same hospital while another was treated at a different hospital. The surviving victims are men between the ages of 28 and 36.[1] All of the victims are members of the Hmong community in Fresno.[7][8] The Fresno area is home to the largest Hmong population in California and the second-largest in the United States. Their community expressed sadness and bewilderment.[6][8]
Investigation
editThe Fresno Police Department is investigating the incident, with assistance from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Clovis Police Department.[9] Fresno Police Deputy Chief Michael Reed said the victims were "likely targeted". The department mobilized an "Asian Gang Task Force" to look into concerns about the attack being connected to a recent spike in violent crime by Asian gangs.[10]
On December 31, six suspects were arrested in connection with the shooting, all of whom were believed to have been members of the Mongolian Boys Society gang. One of the victims was a former member of the rival gang Asian Crips. The shooting was allegedly retaliation for the murder of a Mongolian Boys Society member by a member of the Asian Crips.[11] The suspects were detained at the Fresno County Jail and faced four counts of homicide, 12 counts of attempted homicide, and conspiracy to commit murder with gang and firearms enhancements.[12] In February 2020, a seventh suspect was arrested and charged with the same offenses.[13] In January 2022, the prosecution announced it plans to pursue the death penalty against three of the suspects.[14] In July 2024, one of the suspects, Porge Kue, died in the county jail.[15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Silverman, Hollie (November 17, 2019). "At least 10 people were shot and 4 of them were killed at a football watch party in Fresno". CNN. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
- ^ "Fresno shooting: four dead after attack at backyard party". The Guardian. Associated Press. November 17, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
- ^ Johnson, Alex; Chirbas, Kurt; Madani, Doha (November 18, 2019). "4 killed, 6 others shot at family gathering in Fresno, California". NBC News. Archived from the original on November 18, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ Ortiz, James Ward, Sheyanne N. Romero, John Bacon and Jorge L. "Fresno police look into gang connection after shooting at football party leaves 4 dead, 6 wounded". USA TODAY. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Dakss, Brian; Sundby, Alex (November 18, 2019). "Deadly shooting at Fresno football party appears to have been "targeted act of violence," police say". www.cbsnews.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ a b Hawkins, Derek; Shepherd, Katie; Mettler, Katie (November 18, 2019). "Shooting at Fresno, Calif., backyard party kills four and wounds six in targeted attack, police say". Washington Post. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ Cassidy, Megan; Cabanatuan, Michael (November 18, 2019). "Fresno mass shooting: Gunmen opened fire on Hmong family party as they watched football". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- ^ a b Levin, Sam (November 24, 2019). "'Why did you kill my son?': mass shooting leaves Fresno's Hmong community shattered". The Guardian. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
- ^ "Another suspect in November mass shooting now booked in Fresno Co. Jail". February 2, 2020.
- ^ Fresno Shooting: 4 Dead, 6 Injured In Mass Shooting During Fresno Backyard Gathering KPIX, November 18, 2019
- ^ Sheyanne N Romero and James Ward (December 31, 2019). "6 suspected gang members arrested in shooting in Fresno backyard that killed 4". USA TODAY.
- ^ Levin, Sam (January 3, 2020). "Fresno mass shooting: police arrest six suspects in deadly November attack". The Guardian. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ Rose, Sontaya (February 2, 2020). "Another suspect in November mass shooting now booked in Fresno Co. Jail". KFSN-TV. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ "DA to pursue death penalty against 3 accused of 2019 Fresno mass shooting". ABC30 Fresno. January 21, 2022.
- ^ "Porge Kue, suspect in 2019 deadly Fresno football party shooting, dies while waiting for trial". KFSN-TV. July 10, 2024. Retrieved October 27, 2024.