A Fresno family reportedly found an intoxicated, off-duty ICE agent asleep on their front lawn before he allegedly attacked them when they tried to wake him and get him to leave. The man was shot and handcuffed at the scene.
David Gonzalez, 32, of Texas, was found by police detained and suffering from a gunshot wound to the stomach at about 3:20 a.m. Friday near East Dudley and North Broadway Street.
It remains unclear why the off-duty agent had fallen asleep on the family’s lawn. Police said he allegedly reacted aggressively when the residents attempted to wake him.
According to police, a woman discovered Gonzalez on her lawn after returning home. She alerted her 72-year-old father, who told the man to leave.
Gonzalez allegedly resisted and forced the elderly man to the ground. When the woman stepped in, police said Gonzalez allegedly attacked her as well.
The 72-year-old man allegedly drew a firearm and shot Gonzalez in the stomach. The woman’s boyfriend, who is an off-duty police officer, later arrived and placed Gonzalez in handcuffs.
Gonzalez, whom ICE identified as off duty at the time, was taken to a hospital and is expected to be booked into the Fresno County Jail.
He faces charges of felony vandalism and battery.
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ICE told YourCentralValley.com that it was “referring inquiries regarding this incident to the Fresno Police Department.” The agency also said Gonzalez was alone when the incident occurred.
Fresno police said the elderly man will not be charged in connection with the shooting. Authorities also confirmed that he legally owned the firearm.
The confrontation has drawn widespread attention in the Fresno community.
“This is an example of an innocent life being put at risk because you have irresponsible adults with guns and intoxicated. The fact that they are drinking and getting drunk in the neighborhoods in which they are terrorizing is just so stupid,” Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias said.
“I’m more worried about the fact that we have federal agents that are getting insanely drunk and then passing out on random citizens’ lawns and then being woken up by them and trying to attack them,” a local resident said.
Fresno is the largest city in California’s Central Valley.
The California Post contacted ICE and the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
