FRESNO - On Thursday, shooting victim, Nicholas Kauls, 17 of Fresno, passed away at Community Regional Medical Center. Around 11:45 pm on Sunday, June 24th, dispatchers at the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 phone call stating gunshots had been fired and a person was hit.
Deputies responded to the 4700 block of N. Sunset Drive, near Van Ness and Rialto in Fresno’s Old Fig Garden neighborhood. They found a 17 year old boy (Nicholas Kauls) suffering from a gunshot wound. A deputy provided medical aid while waiting for EMS to respond. Medics arrived and transported the teen to Community Regional Medical Center where he is listed in critical condition.
Homicide detectives and members of the Crime Scene Unit responded to the shooting scene to interview witnesses and collect evidence. Detectives learned Kauls was outside a home with his friend when they were approached by people in an SUV. Someone inside the SUV demanded the boys hand over all of their belongings. The boys refused and ran away. One of the robbery suspects then fired shots at them, striking Kauls. The suspects drove away on Rialto. The other boy was able to get inside the home and asked for someone to call for help.
Detectives have received reports that the shooter was in a light colored mid-size SUV. Sheriff’s detectives have been working with Fresno Police detectives regarding other attempted robberies and shootings that
occurred around the same timeframe in the city of Fresno to see if their calls may be related to this one. It’s unknown if the boys were specifically targeted or chosen at random. This remains an ongoing investigation.
Anyone with additional information on the suspect(s) in this case is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (559) 600-3111, Detective Adam Maldonado (559) 231-6944, or Detective Adrian Villegas (559) 600-8210. You may also call Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867 or www.valleycrimestoppers.org You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a $3,000 cash reward if you make a report through Crime Stoppers.
