Fresno police sergeant shot multiple times, pursued gunman despite wounds

On October 29, 2024By Karl

A Fresno police sergeant was ambushed Saturday evening and shot multiple times at the scene during a homicide investigation but was still pursuing his attacker despite his injuries, city officials said Monday morning.

On Saturday, the sergeant responded to a call in south Fresno where officers were investigating a homicide, Fresno Police Interim Chief Mindy Casto said Monday. While the sergeant was sitting in his patrol car working on his laptop, a gunman, later identified as 40-year-old Andy Morales, walked up to the sergeant’s car and fired .223 rounds from the sergeant’s AR pistol before driving off.

Although he was shot at, he said the sergeant followed the suspect by car for another block while radioing for help. The chief said a 49-second gunfight ensued between the sergeant and Morales before two other officers arrived and opened fire on the suspect, who was killed in the encounter. Police arrived at the scene and gave first aid to the sergeant and applied a tourniquet before he was taken to the hospital where he was recovering.

“The sergeant acted coolly before succumbing to his injuries and going into shock to call an ambulance for both himself and the suspect,” Casto said. “So that’s very remarkable to me.”

Casto said the unidentified sergeant was shot at least twice in the legs and suffered shrapnel wounds, while other bullets hit his car seat and taser. The shooting was the department’s first officer-involved shooting this year. At a news conference Monday, the agency showed a photo of the patrol car riddled with bullet holes.

“I can’t believe it, I mean I can, but it’s so surprising,” Casto said. “He knew he was shot. He activates his body camera. Casto screams that the suspect is after him and he starts his vehicle and starts giving chase,” he said. He said the agency plans to eventually release the body camera footage.

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, who served as police chief for 18 years, said he personally knew the sergeant, a 20-year veteran of the department who previously provided him with a protective detail.

“When you consider the number of bullets fired at close range, the number of bullets that hit that patrol car, and the number of bullets that ultimately hit this sergeant in both legs, we are very, very lucky. I’m not here today to talk about the death of a police officer,” Dyer said.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy in April survived after being shot ride a department-issued motorcycle. The shooting triggered a massive manhunt and authorities eventually arrested a suspect. charged with one count of attempted murder of a peace officer.

Casto said Morales, the gunman in Saturday’s shooting, was previously convicted of assault with a deadly weapon with a bat and had previously been arrested on drunken driving, domestic violence and weapons-related charges. Authorities said the AR gun used by Morales was illegally seized. Casto said the agency is still awaiting a toxicology report to determine whether Morales was under the influence of any drugs, but investigators found a controlled substance in his vicinity.

Casto said the investigation following the shooting revealed that Morales was a suspect in the murder, and the sergeant arrived at the scene to investigate. He was childhood friends with the victim, Mario Ternora, who was found dead of gunshot and stab wounds at a “very violent” scene at a home.

He said Morales was a known gang member, but investigators may never fully understand the motivation behind Ternora’s killing or why he shot at the sergeant.

Casto said the community where the attack occurred provided information. And the officer is already talking about returning to work.

“I think he’s still in the very early stages of recovery and ready to go back to work,” he said. “He’s already talking about that.”

Sign up for Essential California to get news, features and recommendations from the LA Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story first appeared on: Los Angeles Times.