Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto said Sunday afternoon that detectives expect to make an arrest soon following an early morning shooting in the Tower District that injured two people, including a bystander waiting to enter a nightclub.

Officers responded to the shooting at approximately 12:17 a.m. Sunday in an area Casto described as crowded with people, often shoulder to shoulder on the sidewalks.

According to Casto, an altercation involving two groups escalated when a suspect fired nine rounds, striking two people. One of the victims was not involved in the confrontation and was standing in line to enter a club when a stray bullet struck him.

Both victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries to their extremities. One had already been released from the hospital by Sunday afternoon, while the other was expected to be discharged soon.

A third person reported an injury following the shooting, but investigators have not determined how that person was hurt. Casto said the injury did not appear to be from gunfire.

Investigators believe one person fired the shots and was accompanied by several others. Detectives are working to identify those individuals.

Casto said investigators have obtained surveillance footage, social media videos, and information from witnesses that have helped develop strong leads.

“We expect to have someone in custody and not very long,” Casto said.

Police have not released information identifying the suspected shooter or whether the incident was gang-related.

Fourth Tower District Shooting in Six Months

The shooting marks the fourth in the Tower District in approximately six months, according to Casto, raising renewed concerns about public safety in one of Fresno’s most popular entertainment neighborhoods.

Casto said suspects in the previous three shootings have been arrested, including those involved in a recent shooting that resulted in a death.

Despite the continued violence, Casto pushed back against suggestions that crime is rampant in the Tower District.

She said police crime data from the past 10 days showed two aggravated assaults in the vicinity, including an incident involving a federal immigration agent. There were no reported robberies or sexual assaults during that period, she said.

“I’m not going to minimize the shootings. That’s a big deal,” Casto said.

However, she acknowledged that the shootings have created significant concerns for residents, businesses, and visitors.

Casto said some individuals are going to the neighborhood specifically to cause trouble rather than patronize businesses.

She also questioned why suspects would engage in gun violence despite a substantial police presence.

At least 12 officers were already in the area when the shooting occurred, with additional officers responding. Casto estimated that 25 to 30 officers were eventually in the district that night.

The chief said police officers regularly patrol the neighborhood, break up fights, contact suspicious individuals, and seize illegally possessed firearms.

She said officers removed a gun from a person in a vehicle playing loud music just last week.

Police Consider Changes to Tower District Safety Strategy

With multiple shootings occurring despite increased enforcement, Casto acknowledged that police may need to rethink their approach.

She said the department will meet Monday with elected officials, City Hall representatives, and businesses to discuss additional measures.

A community meeting involving a Tower District business and city officials was also already scheduled for this week.

Casto said the department could consider expanding the involvement of specialized units, including officers focused on people on probation.

However, she emphasized that preventing future shootings would require more than increasing the number of officers in the neighborhood.

“I think it’s not an issue of doing more police officers necessarily. It’s we need to do things differently,” Casto said.

She pointed to partnerships with businesses, government agencies, and community organizations, including Advance Peace, as possible ways to address violence before it occurs.

Casto also said Fresno could examine public safety strategies used in other cities, including San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, although she noted that Fresno’s recent problems have involved gun violence rather than primarily alcohol-related disturbances.

Could a Curfew or Nightlife Restrictions Be Coming?

Casto said city officials could consider temporary restrictions on nightlife operations as part of their discussions, although no decision has been made.

She cautioned against imposing measures that could hurt businesses.

“We’re talking about people’s livelihoods and businesses. So we have to be very serious and not just reactive and knee-jerk when we talk about things like that,” Casto said.

Casto said investigators reviewing footage of Sunday’s shooting have found no apparent connection between the suspected shooter and Tower District businesses.

She stressed that city officials must determine whether any business practices contribute to violence without unfairly penalizing establishments.

Casto Says Police Will Not Give Up on Tower District

Despite continued shootings, Casto defended the department’s investment in increased policing in the Tower District.

She described the historic neighborhood as a gathering place for residents from across Fresno and said maintaining its safety remains a priority.

Casto said Fresno police seized more than 1,300 illegally possessed firearms last year and are on track for a similar number this year.

She also cited the department’s approximately 85% clearance rate for shootings involving gunshot victims as evidence of its investigative efforts.

Still, she acknowledged that solving crimes after they occur is different from preventing violence.

Casto said restoring public confidence will require cooperation between police, businesses, city officials, and the community.

“We’ll never give up on the tower,” Casto said. “We’re never going to give up on it and we are not going to just depend on ourselves to fix it.”

“We are going to look to help on the outside with other agencies, other government partners, the businesses to make it a safe place again,” Casto said.

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