The stabbing of a Fresno County prosecutor at Courthouse Park was a targeted attack by a man the prosecutor had handled a criminal case against nearly a decade earlier, Fresno County law enforcement officials said Friday while calling for changes to California’s criminal justice system.

Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni, District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp, and Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto addressed the Thursday attack during a Friday news conference, providing new details about the investigation, the suspect’s criminal history, and additional security measures being considered around the downtown Fresno courthouse.

Zanoni said investigators reviewed security camera footage from Courthouse Park and determined the attack was not random.

“This was a violent act. This is a targeted act. It was not random,” Zanoni said. “It was targeted directly at this district attorney.”

The prosecutor, who was hospitalized following the attack, has since been released and is recovering at home, Smittcamp said.

“I am happy to report that our prosecutor is recovering at home,” Smittcamp said, adding that he is expected to make a full recovery.

What Happened Thursday

The stabbing was reported at 1:13 p.m. Thursday at Courthouse Park in downtown Fresno, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies assigned to the courts responded to help the victim and search for the suspect.

Three minutes later, deputies took Dustin Crawford, 42, into custody near Fresno Street and Van Ness Avenue. Deputies used a Taser while making the arrest and recovered a weapon from him, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Smittcamp later identified him as a senior deputy district attorney and said he was being treated at Community Regional Medical Center. His name has not been released.

Crawford was booked on felony charges of attempted murder and attempted murder of a public official, along with a misdemeanor charge of obstructing a public officer. His bail was set at $1 million.

Officials Call for Criminal Justice Changes

Smittcamp and Zanoni used the stabbing to call for changes to California’s criminal justice system, arguing that current policies have failed to adequately hold violent offenders accountable.

Smittcamp directed some of her strongest criticism toward state lawmakers, saying the attack should serve as an example of what she described as the consequences of criminal justice reform in California.

“Because it shouldn’t take the stabbing of a prosecutor for people to take notice that there is no accountability and no responsibility for violent criminals in our communities,” Smittcamp said.

Smittcamp said people with mental illnesses should have access to appropriate care and mental health courts but argued that repeated violent behavior should eventually result in greater consequences.

“This hug-a-thug theory of life in California has to end,” Smittcamp said. “Because if it doesn’t, more people, more prosecutors, more police, more lay people, more secretaries from the DA’s office, the sheriff’s department, the probation department, the library, are gonna be at risk.”

Zanoni echoed Smittcamp’s criticism, pointing to Crawford’s previous convictions, sentencing and eventual release from prison.

“We want those people, those lawmakers, those legislators on the other end to back us up and help us out,” Zanoni said. “Because if there’s no teeth in the law and people can get away with things like this, it’s gonna continue to happen.”

Zanoni said violent offenders must ultimately be held responsible for their actions regardless of whether they also have mental health issues.

“And at some point the responsibility falls on these individuals,” Zanoni said. “Regardless of whether they have mental health issues, whatever it may be, they are adults. They have to find their way to get their treatment and do the right thing.”

Tulare County DA to Handle Prosecution

Smittcamp said the criminal case against suspect Crawford will be turned over to the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office to avoid any appearance of a conflict because the victim works for her office.

Tulare County prosecutors will review reports and evidence, determine what charges should be filed and handle the case in court, Smittcamp said. The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office will not participate in the prosecution beyond helping provide reports, video footage, and other evidence to Tulare County.

“It is not our position that we should participate in that prosecution and we should turn it over to another agency so that we have no issues or no appearances of impropriety,” Smittcamp said.

Officials also revealed Friday that the prosecutor stabbed Thursday had previously prosecuted Crawford.

Smittcamp said the prosecutor handled Crawford’s 2016 case, which initially involved an attempted murder allegation. Crawford ultimately pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon involving a knife.

“The prosecutor involved in the stabbing that was a victim of the stabbing actually was the prosecutor who took a plea on Mr. Crawford’s case back in 2016, which was also an attempted murder case,” Smittcamp said.

Another former prosecutor who participated in Crawford’s sentencing in the 2016 case was also present at Courthouse Park during Thursday’s attack, Smittcamp said.

She said that history is among the evidence authorities believe will demonstrate the attack was premeditated and deliberate.

Officials Detail Crawford’s Criminal History

Smittcamp said Crawford pleaded guilty in 2016 to assault with a deadly weapon with great bodily injury and received a five-year prison sentence. He also received a four-year concurrent sentence in another case involving resisting a peace officer and causing injury.

Zanoni said Crawford was out of prison and on parole by 2020.

Officials also discussed Crawford’s competency proceedings during the earlier case. Smittcamp said Crawford’s attorney raised concerns about communicating with him, leading to psychological evaluations and treatment at Atascadero.

Once that process was completed and Crawford was found able to participate in his defense, he returned to court, and entered his plea.

Casto Addresses Rise in Assaults on Officers

Casto sought to reassure people about safety in downtown Fresno, saying the stabbing was targeted and did not reflect a broader increase in crime in the area.

“This was not a random attack. It was very much targeted,” Casto said.

Casto said downtown Fresno is statistically safer than many areas of the city and that crime there has decreased slightly from last year. She also said violent crime citywide is down year over year.

However, Casto said assaults against law enforcement are moving in the opposite direction, pointing to a nationwide increase in nonfatal assaults on officers.

“2025 was a 10-year high for assaults on peace officers in our nation, particularly non-fatal assaults,” Casto said.

Casto said Fresno has also experienced violence against officers in recent weeks, including officers being punched in the face and requiring stitches and police vehicles being rammed.

“We’ve had officers punched in the face and received stitches. Our cars have been rammed. We’ve have four police officers shot in the last four years here in the city of Fresno,” Casto said.

Despite those concerns, Casto said Fresno police will continue deploying resources downtown, including patrol officers, the department’s downtown bike team, and a tactical team assigned to the area.

Additional Courthouse Security Under Consideration

Zanoni said uniformed sheriff’s personnel are conducting additional patrol checks at Courthouse Park following the stabbing.

Officials are also considering allowing additional government employees, including city attorneys, public defenders, and prosecutors, to carry concealed weapons inside county facilities.

Zanoni said a recent county ordinance expanded the ability of county employees to carry concealed weapons and that he has been in contact with city and county officials about additional measures.

Zanoni said the surveillance video showed Crawford single out the prosecutor while leaving others nearby alone.

“He singled out, targeted this deputy district attorney from start to finish,” Zanoni said. “This is a specific targeted act.”

—

Connect with Anthony W. Haddad on social media. Got a tip? Send an email.