FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) \u2014 On Thursday morning, the preliminary hearing continued for one of the deadliest mass shootings in Fresno.<\/p>\n
Four people were killed and six others were injured by the gunfire, which happened during a backyard party on Lamona Avenue in 2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you remember being interviewed by law enforcement or participating in an interview for any subject matter related to that event?\u201d Honorable Judge Jonathan Conklin asked the witness.<\/p>\n
Three men, Ger Lee, Billy Xiong and Anthony Montes, sat next to their defense attorney as the prosecutor questioned a witness whom Action News cannot name or show.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors allege the shooting was carried out by members of a street gang seeking revenge for the killing of Randy Xiong earlier the same day.<\/p>\n
The man on the witness stand, who is currently incarcerated for a different crime, answered every question with three words: I don\u2019t remember.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018I don\u2019t remember, I don\u2019t remember.\u2019 That is a tactic generally used by a witness who changes his mind and does not want to cooperate, so that is a problem in this particular case at this point in time,\u201d said Legal Analyst Tony Capozzi.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors showed a nearly hour-long video in which the witness said much more during an interview with detectives.<\/p>\n
He gave details about the plan for the shooting and who was involved.<\/p>\n
ABC30 legal analyst Tony Capozzi says it\u2019s important to remember that the requirements for a preliminary hearing to show there is enough evidence for a trial are different than the requirements to get a conviction.<\/p>\n
\u201d The prosecutor only has to prove there is probable cause to believe that this incident happened and they can use hearsay. They can put a police officer on the stand to say, \u201d This witness told me this. That is enough evidence for the preliminary hearing, but that cannot be used at a jury trial,\u201d said Capozzi.<\/p>\n
Capozzi says there may be multiple reasons why a witness who spoke with detectives does not say the same thing in a courtroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeep in mind, the other three co-defendants are in there, they are listening to the statements he made to the police before, and they are watching him while he is on the stand, so he is in a tough and dangerous position,\u201d said Capozzi.<\/p>\n
The preliminary hearing will continue on Monday morning.<\/p>\n
By ABC 30\u2019s Elisa Navarro on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2026 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n