Homicide detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office have arrested 31 year old Saul Sepulveda Mendoza of Selma.
He has been booked into the Fresno County Jail and faces a charge of murder.
The victim has been identified as Sigifredo Gomez, 38, of Hanford.
Shortly after midnight on Monday, officers with the California Highway Patrol were dispatched to Nebraska and De Wolf Ave. in Selma regarding an injury traffic accident. Once officers arrived and interviewed witnesses, they determined a driver deliberately struck Sigifredo Gomez and then drove away. Gomez died at the scene. CHP officers then requested that Fresno County Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives take over the investigation.
The preliminary investigation shows that Gomez had a woman, who was his friend, riding as a passenger in his vehicle when he pulled over and parked on the side of the road. As he got out to walk around his vehicle, Mendoza drove by and intentionally hit the Gomez with his car. Mendoza had a prior dating relationship with the woman in the Gomez’ vehicle, so detectives believe this was a possible motive for the attack.
Detectives worked throughout the night attempting to locate Mendoza. Just before 8:30 am, FSO detectives along with Kings County Sheriff’s deputies, found Mendoza sitting in his car near the intersection of Highway 41 and Main St. in Stratford. Deputies took Mendoza into custody without incident. Detectives believe the car Mendoza was in is the same car used to kill the victim, so it has been collected as evidence.
This marks the 11th homicide of 2016 in Fresno County.
Anyone with additional information on this case should call Fresno County Sheriff’s Detective Matt Hamilton at 559-600-8210, Detective Adam Maldonado at (559) 600-8208 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP (7867). You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.
