Homicide Investigation and Arrests
June 14, 2023 - Fresno Police Department officials report that on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at 11:38 p.m., Southwest Policing District officers responded to the 900 block of Fulton Street for a report of a stabbing victim. Officers arrived and found 22-year-old Kristopher Rodriguez, suffering from multiple stab wounds to the upper body. Officers and EMS personnel provided medical aid to Rodriguez. Rodriguez was pronounced deceased on scene. Officers detained a subject, later identified as 30-year-old Alejandro Lopez, who was seen fleeing the scene. Upon contact, Lopez was found to have injuries to his shoulder and hand and was transported to Community Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Through the investigation, detectives learned victim Rodriguez was with a group of friends and family members when he got into a verbal altercation with another group of males. During the altercation, two of the males physically assaulted Rodriguez and one of them stabbed Rodriguez multiple times. The investigation also revealed Alejandro Lopez was the person responsible for stabbing Rodriguez and he was taken into custody after he was cleared by hospital staff. Detectives were able to identify the second subject who physically assaulted Rodriguez as 33-year-old Jose Orlando Verduzco.
Detectives also learned that immediately after the assault, Verduzco pointed a handgun at two females as he fled the scene. On Monday, June 12, 2023, Verduzco turned himself in at Fresno Police Headquarters. Verduzco was arrested and booked into the Fresno County Jail. Although an arrest has been made, detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this altercation to please contact the Fresno Police Department. Anyone calling with information can remain completely anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at (559) 498- STOP (7867). You may also contact Fresno Police Department – Homicide Detective J. Baroni at 559-621-2516 or Detective R. Montoya at 559-621-2449.
Source & photos: Fresno Police Department
