Teen, 16, Booked on Attempted Murder Charges After Tower District Shooting Wounds Two Men

A 16-year-old boy has been booked on attempted murder charges in connection with a shooting in Fresno's Tower District that sent two men to the hospital, one of them a bystander who was simply waiting in line, police said.

The gunfire erupted shortly after midnight on Sunday. According to Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto, investigators traced the suspect to a home in Fowler, where he was taken into custody. He was then booked at the Fresno County Juvenile Justice Center.

Casto praised the detectives who worked the case. "I'm very pleased with my detectives, through their hard work from the moment they responded until the suspect was taken into custody at 11:44 last night," she said.

The incident was the fourth shooting reported in the Tower District over the past four months. In response, Mayor Jerry Dyer announced a package of safety measures that will begin immediately.

Under the plan, at least two officers will be posted outside key venue entrances on weekend nights. The city will also install upgraded high-intensity LED street lighting and expand its use of live-feed security cameras across the district.

Officials also intend to paint many curbs along Olive Avenue white to create zones for passengers to be dropped off and picked up. Designated areas for street vendors will be set up as well, in an effort to ease sidewalk congestion.

Dyer said residents should expect a visible difference. "It will be different, you will see increased lighting, you will see an increased presence of police officers and you will see that we are taking steps to move people along the sidewalks so they cannot block anyone that's trying to get through the sidewalk," he said.

Some business owners welcomed the steps. Lewis Everk, owner of MIA nightclub, said the area needs change. "Something's got to change. Enough is enough and until we can come together as a community and stop pointing the blame at each other and find some really solid solutions that can help us turn this thing around. We're going to continue to see more of the same," he said.

Residents and city leaders said the repeated violence is threatening the character of the Tower District and has left many families frustrated. Councilmember Miguel Arias warned that businesses or individuals who fail to do their part could lose their welcome in the area. "If a business or some individuals come along and don't do their part, then they should anticipate they will no longer be welcomed to participate or do business in the corridor because this has gone too far and people are fed up with it," he said.

Residents can weigh in on the new measures at a community meeting hosted by the mayor at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Tower Theatre.