The Fresno Police Department provided an update Sunday after a Saturday night shooting sent two people, including a toddler, to the hospital.
Officers responded to a two-round ShotSpotter activation after receiving an update that two shooting victims from the 3100 block of East Washington Avenue were being taken to the hospital.
Family members took the victims.
Police said the toddler was struck once in the lower leg and suffered a non-life-threatening injury. The other victim was struck once in the lower body and remained in critical but stable condition.
Officers also located a third person suffering from blunt-force injuries to his face and head. Detectives determined that the man was the alleged shooting suspect, who had argued with the victim before shots were fired.
Police initially reported that the third person had been struck by gunfire.
Several other people attending the birthday party were not struck by gunfire but attempted to take the gun away from the suspect, identified by police as 39-year-old Paul Benefield of Fresno.
Benefield is in custody and is being treated for his injuries at a hospital. Police said he will be charged with assault with a deadly weapon and firearm-related offenses.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information can remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867 or Fresno police at 559-621-7000.
This story was originally published September 6, 2026 at 2:17 PM.
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Anthony Galaviz writes about breaking news/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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