Between Merced and Fresno, three people were killed in a 24 hour period this past weekend. Another woman was shot Monday afternoon and is still in critical condition.
The first shooting occured around 8 o'clock Sunday night. A man was getting dropped off at his house when he saw his neighbor's car was getting broken into near Kearney and Crystal. He tried to intervene and was shot and killed by the thief, who's still at large.
About an hour later, a man knocked on the door of a home along Hedges in Fresno. A 14-year-old girl answered.
The stranger asked for the girl's uncle by name. Instead, her dad came to the door.
Several shots ended the life of a father inside his own home. Police have leads, but no one behind bars.
Just before 4 o'clock Monday morning, a man and his son were parked along East 15th street in Merced. A group of 7 to 14 men ran up and started beating the older man.
The victim's son ran for help. By the time it arrived, it was too late.
The suspect's who were heard shouting "norte" (north), disappeared. The man they killed was hispanic.
Just before 4 o'clock Monday afternoon, another man approached another home in Fresno, this time along Thorne. When he entered, he shot a woman inside.
She remains in critical condition at CRMC. Again, police have leads, but no arrests.
Fresno Chief Jerry Dyer said this past weekend pushed the homicide total for 2013 from 3 to 5. At trhis point last year, there were 8.
Statistical improvement, but Chief Dyer doesn't look like a man celebrating. He sees the redundancy of violence as well as anyone, and prays for the day when the ebb will return to flow.
TXT 24
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