A man celebrating his birthday was gifted a bullet in the ankle after his party turned into a terrifying burst of gunfire.
Officers rushed to the area of Olive Avenue and Lucerne Avenue in Fresno on Aug. 9 after multiple shots rang out, according to the Fresno Police Department. The suspect, Troy Franklin, 43, was arrested after a dramatic pursuit that ended with the alleged shooter crashing and fleeing on foot.
The victim told police he had been celebrating his birthday on Sunday with several people near the intersection when a Black Chevy suddenly pulled away from the curb.
The car’s lone occupant, Franklin, allegedly confronted the birthday reveler before opening fire.
One of the bullets grazed the victim’s left ankle. He managed to escape and drove to Second Street and Orleans Avenue to call for help.
The injured man was taken to Community Regional Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition. But the shooting didn’t end there.
As the victim ran from the scene, one of the people celebrating with him allegedly fired back at Franklin in an apparent act of self-defense. Detectives were able to identify the suspect with automated license plate readers, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Four days later, cops found Franklin.
On Thursday morning, members of the department’s Street Violence Bureau Tactical Team spotted the suspect near First Avenue and Nees Avenue as he left a business and climbed into a vehicle.
When detectives moved in to arrest him, Franklin allegedly rammed an undercover police vehicle and sped away.
The chase then barreled toward Barstow Avenue and Millbrook Avenue, with Fresno police’s Air1 helicopter keeping eyes on the fleeing suspect from above.
Franklin’s getaway came to a screeching halt when he crashed into a parked vehicle, police said. But he apparently wasn’t ready to surrender.
Franklin allegedly jumped out of the wrecked vehicle and took off running, only to be quickly surrounded and captured with help from Air1, tactical officers, the Career Criminal Auto Theft Team, K-9 officers and Northeast Patrol officers.
Franklin is expected to be booked into the Fresno County Jail on charges stemming from the shooting, as well as felony assault on a peace officer.
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