Fresno Police Kill Student at Local High School

Fresno Police Kill Student at Local High School
By Mike Rhodes

On Wednesday, April 17, sophomore Jesse Carrisalez was shot and killed by Fresno Police Department (FPD) officer Junus Perry at Roosevelt High School. The FPD, shortly after the incident, released information to the public that indicated officer Perry shot the student in self defense. Carrisalez was said to have hit Perry with a baseball bat and a knife was found nearby. Police Chief Jerry Dyer said that “this was a case of suicide by cop.”

The first reports of this shooting said Perry, after being hit with a baseball bat, was knocked to the ground. The magazine to his handgun fell out as he hit the ground and Perry grabbed a second gun from his ankle and shot Carrisalez in the chest. Yesterday, a pathologist’s finding raised questions about what happened. According to The Fresno Bee, Harry Bonnell who is a San Diego pathologist, said the trajectory of the bullet is not consistent with Perry’s description of the incident. Instead of an upward trajectory, as would be expected if someone was shooting from the ground up, the bullet had a slightly downward angle.

At today’s press conference, Gloria Hernandez, speaking on behalf of the Central California Criminal Justice Committee demanded a public hearing on this shooting incident. “We need a public forum, we demand that the City Council call a public forum and let the people listen, let the people talk, because sometimes the people have recommendations that are outside of the box,” Hernandez said. She also said that this incident is further evidence of why we need an Independent Police Auditor.

Ben Benavidez of the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA) said “we feel that the Fresno Unified School District let Jesse down. He was a Special Education student. Where was his support and intervention? We want answers, we will get them!”

Elisa Ortega, Jesse Carrisalez’s sister, said “my brother shouldn’t have died. He was too young. He was a good kid that wanted to live.”

The press conference was organized by the NAACP, MAPA, The Hmong American Political Association, and Comité No Nos Vamos.

###