An armed gunman is in critical condition after two Fresno Police officers shot him when he led them on a foot chase. It happened around 7:30pm near Fruit and Saginaw in Fresno.
Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer says two officers were patrolling the area as part of a gang operation when they came across a man and a woman walking in the street.
They say the man walked into oncoming traffic, and officers tried pulling him out of the street.
Officers say the man ran off and they tased him twice, but the taser failed to work and they fired.
“At some point after about a foot chase, the suspect pulled a handgun out of his pocket and the officer that was pursuing felt he was about to be shot and fired one round at the suspect striking him. The suspect fell to the ground. He still had the handgun and threw the handgun into the roadway,” Chief Dyer said.
Some neighbors have a different version of the story.
“I didn't see no gun. All I see is a water bottle that fell to the ground and all I hear is girlfriend saying he didn't have no gun… no gun! So that was it… I mean the stuff was like…it was happening fast but looked like it was slow motion,” Robby Wilson said.
Police dispute that and say the man had a gun, and is an ex-felon.
The officer who shot the suspect is on paid administrative leave.
