Post by Shuftin on Feb 20, 2007 4:32:48 GMT -5
02/18/07
By Louis Galvan
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA – An investigation continued Saturday into the shooting of a Fowler farmer in front of his house by a Fresno County sheriff’s deputy who apparently went to the wrong address to check on a 911 call.
Donnie Srabian, 61, who was hit once in the abdomen, was reported in serious but stable condition at University Medical Center.
Sheriff’s Lt. Fred Lopez said a deputy was dispatched to check a 911 hang-up call that was received at 8:29 p.m. Friday. The system showed the call had been made from a residence at 7297 E. Walter Ave., just east of the city limits of Fowler.
Lopez said sending deputies to check on such calls is standard procedure to make sure whoever makes the call is not in danger.
He said the deputy was dispatched at 8:35 p.m. and that six minutes later the dispatcher was notified the deputy had been involved in a shooting.
Investigators were not available Saturday to comment on the case, but the deputy apparently was checking the wrong address because the shooting happened at Srabian’s farm home at 7274 E. Walter Ave.
Lopez said preliminary findings show that the deputy, driving a marked patrol car, drove down a long driveway before pulling up in front of a farmhouse.
He said the deputy told investigators a man wearing a ski mask and armed with a gun came out of the house and pointed a gun at him.
Lopez said the deputy, fearing for his life, was still in his patrol car when he fired several shots at the man, striking him once. Lopez said he did not know if the man fired any shots at the deputy.
Interviewed at the family’s home Saturday afternoon, Srabian’s sister, Beverly Srabian, 66, said she believes the deputy overreacted and that her brother should not have been shot.
She said her brother was not wearing a ski mask, but instead was wearing a beanie, which he likes to pull down low to cover his ears to protect him from the cold.
She said she was in bed when she heard her dog barking and moments later heard shots. She said she believes her brother, who had been in the dining room, heard the dog barking, noticed a car outside and armed himself when he went out to investigate.
She said she did not know of any reason why her brother would have pointed the gun at the deputy.
Beverly Srabian, whose family operates Srabian Farms, said she and her family have lived in Fowler all their lives and never have been in trouble with the law. She said no one called 911 from the home.
She said the family has contacted a lawyer to look into the matter.
www.fresnobee.com/263/story/30515.html
By Louis Galvan
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA – An investigation continued Saturday into the shooting of a Fowler farmer in front of his house by a Fresno County sheriff’s deputy who apparently went to the wrong address to check on a 911 call.
Donnie Srabian, 61, who was hit once in the abdomen, was reported in serious but stable condition at University Medical Center.
Sheriff’s Lt. Fred Lopez said a deputy was dispatched to check a 911 hang-up call that was received at 8:29 p.m. Friday. The system showed the call had been made from a residence at 7297 E. Walter Ave., just east of the city limits of Fowler.
Lopez said sending deputies to check on such calls is standard procedure to make sure whoever makes the call is not in danger.
He said the deputy was dispatched at 8:35 p.m. and that six minutes later the dispatcher was notified the deputy had been involved in a shooting.
Investigators were not available Saturday to comment on the case, but the deputy apparently was checking the wrong address because the shooting happened at Srabian’s farm home at 7274 E. Walter Ave.
Lopez said preliminary findings show that the deputy, driving a marked patrol car, drove down a long driveway before pulling up in front of a farmhouse.
He said the deputy told investigators a man wearing a ski mask and armed with a gun came out of the house and pointed a gun at him.
Lopez said the deputy, fearing for his life, was still in his patrol car when he fired several shots at the man, striking him once. Lopez said he did not know if the man fired any shots at the deputy.
Interviewed at the family’s home Saturday afternoon, Srabian’s sister, Beverly Srabian, 66, said she believes the deputy overreacted and that her brother should not have been shot.
She said her brother was not wearing a ski mask, but instead was wearing a beanie, which he likes to pull down low to cover his ears to protect him from the cold.
She said she was in bed when she heard her dog barking and moments later heard shots. She said she believes her brother, who had been in the dining room, heard the dog barking, noticed a car outside and armed himself when he went out to investigate.
She said she did not know of any reason why her brother would have pointed the gun at the deputy.
Beverly Srabian, whose family operates Srabian Farms, said she and her family have lived in Fowler all their lives and never have been in trouble with the law. She said no one called 911 from the home.
She said the family has contacted a lawyer to look into the matter.
www.fresnobee.com/263/story/30515.html