Man fatally stabbed in neck in downtown Fresno identified. Police make arrest
A man was stabbed to death in downtown Fresno, police said Friday.
Police said they were called to a scene on Fulton Street just south of Tulare Street about 11:30 p.m. Thursday after an altercation that ended with the fatal stabbing.
The man was stabbed multiple times, police said. First responders attempted life-saving efforts, police said, but the 22-year-old died at the scene.
The victim was identified as Kristopher Rodriguez during an update before noon on Friday from Lt. Paul Cervantes.
Police detained a man they said was responsible for stabbing Rodriguez in the neck and chest, but said it was too early in the investigation to release his name. Cervantes said there may be a second arrest.
He said the men crossed paths downtown and began exchanging gang slurs before the physical confrontation.
Art Hop and a crowd of 3,000 people
Art Hop was held in downtown Thursday night but had ended several hours before the homicide, and police said the violence was not related to the art event.
Police estimated about 3,000 people attended Art Hop, but Cervantes said it wasn’t clear if the people involved in the altercation took part in the social event.
Some of them ate at a restaurant downtown, not a food truck, before the altercation, he said.
“It’s conceivable that they were there after the event (Art Hop) that finished at 8 o’clock,” Cervantes said.
Violent week in Fresno
The stabbing marked the 14th intentional homicide so far this year compared to 25 at the same time last year.
Cervantes noted this week had been particularly violent with two fatal shootings earlier in the week and a second deadly stabbing.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked by police to call 559-621-7000. Anyone can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867.
