Two people were hospitalized after a large fight involving roughly 200 individuals escalated into a stabbing on Thursday on Fulton Street in the Brewery District of downtown Fresno.
Fresno Police Lt. Justin Hoagland said officers responded to reports of a disturbance around 9 p.m. and arrived within three minutes to Fulton and Inyo. The first Thursday of the month generally draws large crowds to the area for ArtHop.
When officers reached the scene, they encountered a chaotic scene with a large crowd either actively fighting or gathered as onlookers.
Amid the unrest, two victims — a woman and a man — were stabbed.
Both were taken to the hospital and were reported to be in stable condition.
Hoagland said officers detained seven individuals at the scene while they worked to regain control.
Hoagland said some of those detained may face charges, including resisting arrest or possibly assaulting officers, though the investigation is ongoing.
“It took approximately 38 officers to bring the situation under control,” Hoagland said. “With that many people involved, there’s a significant amount of evidence and witness statements to process.”
The incident unfolded along Fulton Street near its intersection with Inyo Street, with a secondary scene located slightly north of the initial location.
Officers spent about 15 to 20 minutes clearing the area and establishing a secure crime scene.
Authorities noted a heavy police presence had already been planned in the area due to a separate event, which allowed for a faster response.
While the disturbance occurred near the site of a recent homicide, police say it is too early to determine whether the incidents are connected.
Investigators also have not confirmed whether the fight was gang-related.
This story was originally published April 3, 2026 at 3:53 AM.
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Anthony Galaviz writes about sports for The Fresno Bee. He covers the Las Vegas Raiders, high schools, boxing, MMA and junior colleges. He’s been with The Bee since 1997 and attended Fresno City College before graduating from Fresno State with a major in journalism and a minor in criminology.
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