CALIFORNIA — Late Monday night, Maria Socorro Lopez passed away in the hospital. The 77 year old woman remained in critical condition there since being shot on January 11th. Lopez is the sixth homicide victim in Fresno County for 2016. There have been three separate double homicides this year, all of which were shootings. None of these cases have been solved. The total number of homicides in Fresno County in 2015 was nine. Seven of those cases were solved.
**PREVIOUSLY RELEASED INFORMATION***
Homicide detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office have been working non-stop since Monday to find the per*son(s) responsible for killing 52 year old Jesus Castor and injuring his 77 year old mother, Maria Socorro Lopez. Castor is the first homicide victim of 2016.
She remains at a local hospital in critical condition. Detectives believe people in the community have valuable information, which can lead to an arrest of the gunman. They are asking those in the public to do the right thing and report what they know in order to deliver justice to the victims’ family.
The shooting happened just before 2:00 am on Monday. Lopez and Castor were headed to the store, walking along the 2400 block of S. 10th Street in Calwa. During this time, they came across a group of men on the street. One of the men pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots at Castor and his mother who were in close range. Castor died at the scene and his mother was rushed to the hospital.
Detectives continue to interview potential witnesses. Detectives have not determined a possible motive behind this shooting, however, they can say this appears to be a random act due to the fact there is no evidence that the victims would be targeted.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to please contact Sheriff’s Detective Juan Galindo at (559) 600-8215, Detective Adam Maldonado at (559) 600-8208 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP (7867).
