Police in Fresno, Clifornia, found themselves in a face-off with a White mob protesting a shooting of a suspect. On June 25, police responded to reports of a White male carrying a rifle on a residential street. Police confronted Dylan Noble, 19, at a gas station after a car chase for speeding down the street. According to police, Noble got out of his pickup truck, started to walk away and refused to show his hands. Fresno Deputy Chief Pat Farmer told reporters Saturday that “The subject made a statement that he hated his life and made affirmative movement to the small of his back at which time he was shot several times by officers at the scene.”
The officers indicated they feared that Noble was reaching behind his back for a weapon and they opened fire. Noble was hit several times and later died during surgery at a local hospital. The two officers involved in the shooting were wearing body cameras. No weapon was found on Noble or in the vehicle. Family and friends rushed to the crime scene and confronted police over the shooting. By nightfall, a group of protesters carrying Confederate flags and “White Lives Matter” signs appropriating the “Black Lives Matter” rallying cry gathered at the gas station. Some in the crowd reportedly yelled ‘’F— the police” and there were reports of glass bottles being thrown at a line of officers. Family members demanded as to why Noble was shot for speeding.
Police have stated that the two officers involved are veterans. One has been in law enforcement for 20 years, and the other for 17 years. The officers have been placed on routine administrative leave during the ongoing investigation. This is the seventh officer-involved shooting in Fresno this year.
