FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Fresno city leaders are rolling out new safety measures in the Tower District following a string of shootings, including a weekend shooting outside a popular nightclub that left two people injured.
The latest shooting happened Sunday morning outside MIA Nightclub. Fresno police later announced the arrest of a 16-year-old suspect on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the shooting.
Detectives identified the teen using surveillance footage and social media. He was arrested Sunday night in Fowler and booked into the Fresno County Juvenile Justice Center.
The shooting has renewed concerns about violence in the Tower District, where four shootings have occurred over the past six months.
On Monday, city leaders gathered to announce a series of changes aimed at improving safety in the neighborhood, including changes to parking, lighting, street vending and crowd management.
Lewis Everk , owner of MIA Nightclub, said the latest shooting hit close to home. He said one of the people shot was a former employee who worked as a bouncer at the club.
“One of our former employees who was a bouncer here, he actually was shot in the ankle and rendered medical aid to the other person who was shot,” Everk said.
He said he raised concerns about violence with city officials months ago.
“August 21st, I reached out to the city and addressed my concerns that what I was seeing in the streets in particular was something that we need to address,”Everk said. “It’s gotten out of control.”
One of the most visible changes will be the removal of 18 parking spaces along Olive Avenue between Palm and Van Ness avenues.
Mayor Jerry Dyer said the spaces will be converted into passenger loading and unloading zones, with the areas painted white. The city said the changes were expected to be in place by Thursday.
Other measures include establishing a designated area for street vendors near Van Ness and Olive avenues, installing LED lighting and requiring certain businesses to pay for two police officers stationed outside on Thursdays and Fridays.
City officials also plan to ensure businesses comply with curfews and occupancy limits.
Councilmember Miguel Arias said crowd management is a key part of addressing the problem.
“Our challenge has been to address the root cause, and crowd management is part of the biggest problem,” Arias said.
Business owners question whether changes will stop violence
While city leaders say the measures are intended to improve safety, some business owners question whether the changes will address the people responsible for the violence.
Everk said he worries the city could place too much responsibility on businesses rather than focusing on individuals carrying guns.
“My fear is that we might weaponize some of our public services, like the fire department and city planning, as well as code enforcement against the businesses,” he said. “Everybody’s looking to point the finger, and unfortunately, the finger’s pointing in the wrong direction.”
Asked where the focus should be, Everk responded, “To the people carrying guns.”
Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto has also said some people involved in violence in the Tower District come from outside the neighborhood.
“So if you come to the Tower and you get engaged in that kind of activity, it’s going to be short-lived,” Casto said.
People who live in and frequent the district expressed mixed opinions about the proposed changes. Some said violence is often caused by people visiting the neighborhood rather than local residents.
Others questioned whether additional safety measures would be enough, pointing to incidents that have occurred despite a visible police presence.
One person interviewed said the possibility that a 16-year-old was responsible for the latest shooting highlights a broader social problem.
City leaders are encouraging residents, business owners and others who spend time in the Tower District to participate in an upcoming community meeting to discuss safety concerns.
The meeting has been moved to 5:30 p.m. at the Tower Theater on Wednesday.