A veteran Fresno police sergeant was shot and wounded in a dramatic confrontation with a homicide suspect on the 3700 block of East Platt Avenue on Saturday, authorities said.

At approximately 5:23 p.m., officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert indicating gunfire in the area. About an hour into the investigation, the sergeant was ambushed while sitting in his patrol vehicle.

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The sergeant, who had been parked and working on his laptop, came under fire from a later identified murder suspect Andy Morales, 40, leading to a short pursuit and a 49-second exchange of gunfire, Interim Police Chief Mindy Casto said at a Monday morning news conference.

“An individual showed up on scene, we would later learn that he was the suspect in the original ShotSpotter and a murder that we would shortly discover,” Casto said.

She continued, “Andy Morales … 40-years-old, from Fresno, drove up to the sergeant who was parked in his patrol car along the curb, working on his computer, and opened fire viciously striking the patrol car numerous times and striking the sergeant numerous times with gunfire as he sat in the patrol car.”

Casto didn’t identify the sergeant, but Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said the wounded officer worked for Dyer when he was the police chief.

Dyer said, “It’s very personal to me because I happen to be good friends with this sergeant, a sergeant I’ve known for many many years. A good family man. Has been a great police office and he is somebody that I have a great deal of respect for.” Dyer also said, “He was the one who was providing protection detail for me many times over the years.”

The sergeant was struck at least twice by rounds from an AR pistol that penetrated his vehicle door. Despite his injuries, he chased Morales, who eventually lost control of his vehicle and spun out.

Both men exited their vehicles and engaged in what Casto described as a “gun battle.” Casto said that Morales was shot at least seven times in the exchange.

Despite being shot, the sergeant remained composed, calling an ambulance for both himself and the suspect, and did not immediately notify dispatch that he had been hit.

The sergeant received treatment, including tourniquets, at the scene before being taken to the hospital. Casto said that the sergeant wants to return to the field once he is recovered.

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Suspect Is a Known Gang Member: Casto

Morales, a known gang member with multiple prior arrests for DUI and domestic abuse, later died, according to Casto. Authorities said his weapon was not registered to him, and controlled substances were found nearby, though it remains unclear if he was under the influence at the time.

The shooting occurred near the home of Mario Ternora, 43, of Fresno, who was found dead with gunshot and stab wounds, marking the 26th homicide in Fresno this year, according to authorities.

Police suspect Morales is responsible for Ternora’s murder. Ternora and Morales were once childhood friends, according to Casto.

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First Fresno Officer-Involved Shooting of 2024

Dyer, who attended the press conference, said, “He was glad that he was the one that was shot and not his officers because the officers that were on the scene were in their early 20s, the same age as his children and he was looking out for those officers just as he would look out for his own kids.”

This shooting marks Fresno’s first officer-involved shooting of 2024; there were five in 2023, according to Casto.

The department intends to release police bodycam footage following the conclusion of its investigation, Casto said.