Texas tip leads to arrest of Fresno deadly shooting suspect

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - A extremity led to the apprehension of the fishy successful a deadly Fresno shooting, starring Fresno Police to Texas to find a antheral wanted since 2023, the section announced connected Tuesday.

The probe began back connected May 28, 2023. Fresno Police reported they recovered 39-year-old Paul Fierro suffering from a gunshot coiled adjacent Glenn Avenue and Lansing Way. He was transported to a section hospital, wherever helium died.

Investigators determined that an statement had occurred instantly earlier the shooting. At this time, the victim's neighbor, identified arsenic 48-year-old Cristino Paul Rocha III, got retired of his location and fired a shotgun astatine Fierro.

"It was truly alternatively unexpected. It was rather an escalation to what was conscionable a vicinity disturbance— and precise disturbing obviously, the level of unit astatine that peculiar incident," Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto said.

Despite months of searching for Rocha statewide, detectives accidental the way went cold— adjacent with the assistance of the US Marshal's Office.

Then, successful February 2025, constabulary began moving ads with Crime Stoppers for tips starring to Rocha's arrest. In May, archetypal contacts of the archetypal probe were reached retired to, and much accusation regarding Rocha's suspected whereabouts was revealed.

Detectives narrowed down their hunt to San Antonio, Texas, and began moving with their constabulary department. Their country Crime Stoppers began moving ads successful their media, and galore tips regarding Rocha's determination flooded in.

Rocha had reportedly attempted to fly the country but was yet recovered and arrested successful Waco, Texas, by US Marshals. Fresno Police accidental helium volition beryllium extradited backmost to Fresno for trial.

Part of wherefore constabulary accidental Rocha was truthful hard to way down was due to the fact that helium was utilizing fake IDs. Crime Stoppers says a $3,000 reward volition beryllium fixed to the idiosyncratic who provided the extremity that pb to Rocha's arrest.