Two survivors of the 2019 mass shooting in central Fresno took the witness stand Tuesday, describing the chaos and terror that unfolded during one of the deadliest shootings in the city’s history.
Prosecutors are seeking to send Ger Lee, Billy Xiong and Anthony Montes to trial for their alleged roles in the attack, which killed four people and wounded six others during a backyard gathering on Lamona Avenue.
The three men are charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with the Nov. 17, 2019 shooting.
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During Tuesday’s testimony, one survivor recalled how an evening spent watching football and cooking outside suddenly turned deadly.
“We didn’t know what it was,” he testified, referring to the initial sounds of gunfire. “But then we saw people falling, and that’s when we realized that people got hurt. But there was nowhere to go.”
The witness said he ran toward the house searching for his wife and children as bullets continued flying.
“As I’m going into the house, I can see some of the fallen brothers by the door,” he testified.
Only after reaching safety inside did he realize he had been shot in the shoulder.
A second survivor told the court he believes luck may have saved his life after a bullet struck his leg.
“I think the position that I was standing in may be why I’m still alive today,” he testified. “I can’t help but to wonder if that’s why I’m here.”
Prosecutors allege the shooting was an act of retaliation for the killing of Randy Xiong earlier that same day. Investigators believe the gunmen were targeting rival gang members, although authorities have said none of the four people killed were gang members.
The four victims who died in the attack were men ranging in age from 23 to 40.
The court also heard from crime scene technician Matthew Shafer, who investigated the homicide of Randy Xiong that preceded the mass shooting.
When asked whether he had ever encountered a more brutal homicide during his career, Shafer responded:
“No, I have not.”
The preliminary hearing is expected to continue Wednesday as prosecutors work to convince a judge there is enough evidence to send Lee, Xiong and Montes to trial in the shooting.
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