FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Emotions ran high Tuesday as the man accused in a deadly shooting near Fresno State made his first court appearance, bringing the victim’s family and the suspect’s family face-to-face.
London West, 20, appeared in Fresno County Superior Court on murder charges connected to the shooting death of a 17-year-old boy at an apartment complex across the street from Valley Children’s Stadium.
The hearing was delayed for hours as family members from both sides waited for West to be brought into the courtroom. When he finally entered, shackled and wearing a red jail-issued jumpsuit, the victim’s mother immediately became emotional.
Courtroom tensions escalated when a woman seated with the victim’s family took a photograph of West with her cellphone. Members of West’s family alerted court staff, and the woman was removed by a bailiff while proceedings were underway.
A brief verbal exchange followed between the two sides before the atmosphere shifted dramatically.
West’s mother approached the victim’s mother and embraced her. Both women were visibly emotional.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” West’s mother told her, later adding, “there are no winners in this.”
After the hearing, West’s mother spoke off-camera about why she felt compelled to reach out.
“She (the victim’s mother) lost her baby,” she said. “We’ve all lost in this situation, and fighting is not going to make anything better.”
The shooting occurred as thousands of fans were leaving Fresno State’s season-opening football game, creating chaos in the area.
Investigators say the homicide involved multiple suspects. Exclusive doorbell camera video obtained by Action News shows two masked individuals walking near the crime scene shortly before gunfire erupted.
While West is now in custody, Fresno police say two additional suspects remain at large.
Authorities are searching for 18-year-old Denim McVey and 16-year-old Jaheim Packard, both of whom are wanted in connection with the homicide.
Tuesday’s hearing ended without West entering a plea.
His arraignment has been continued until Thursday, when he is expected to formally respond to the charges against him.
Meanwhile, Fresno police continue to search for the remaining suspects and are urging anyone with information to contact investigators.
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