Three men were arrested and 20 firearms were seized after a shooting investigation that began with a two-round ShotSpotter activation in central Fresno late last month, the Fresno Police Department said in a statement.

Central Policing District officers responded to the alert around 2:38 p.m. on Oct. 25 near North Hughes and West Dakota avenues. Officers found shell casings and spoke with two witnesses who reported hearing gunfire and people running for cover.

Surveillance footage showed someone in a black, newer model Nissan Altima firing at another vehicle as it drove away, police said. While officers were investigating, a victim called to report that two men in a black Altima had confronted him and his wife while he was fueling up at a gas station, threatened to shoot them, and fired in his direction as he drove away.

Felony Assault Detectives, assisted by the Tulare Police Department’s Street Crimes and Gang Unit, identified the suspects as Pete Alvarez, 19, of Tulare, and Alexander Alvarez, 22, of Visalia. Detectives secured Ramey warrants for their arrests.

 

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Recent Arrest

On Thursday, Fresno detectives — working with the U.S. Marshals Office and Tulare police SWAT officers — served search warrants at two locations in Tulare County, recovering 20 firearms, including a Springfield XD-9 pistol, as well as clothing believed to have been worn during the shooting.

A third man, Pete Alvarez, 45, was also arrested at the scene. Police said he was not connected to the shooting but, as a convicted felon barred from having guns, faces several firearm-related charges.

Alexander Alvarez was arrested on suspicion of allowing the discharge of a firearm from a vehicle, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, being an accessory, carrying a loaded firearm in public, and making criminal threats.

Pete Alvarez, 19, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, firing from a vehicle at a person, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, carrying a loaded firearm in public, shooting at an inhabited vehicle or dwelling and making criminal threats.

Both younger suspects were booked into the Fresno County Jail.

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