Two arrested after Fresno police stop armed safe theft chase

Three men posing as police officers forced their way into a Fresno apartment, stole a large safe and triggered a violent chase that ended with officers ramming their vehicle on Fresno State’s campus. The robbery unfolded around 7:20 a.m. near North Backer Avenue and East Shaw Avenue, in the MapleWood Apartment complex just northeast of Fresno State.

The suspects wore masks and vests, identified themselves as officers and entered an occupied apartment. They took a large safe, then dropped it in the parking lot after officers arrived. As the suspects tried to flee, one man on foot nearly was run over by the getaway vehicle, and an officer fired. The chase moved toward Shaw and Maple avenues and onto campus before officers used a PIT maneuver to bring it to a stop.

A K-9 was deployed during the arrest, and officers recovered at least one firearm at the scene, a rifle. One suspect, Amicho Mancia, 37, was shot and hospitalized. A second suspect, Antwoine Mancia, 43, was identified, while a third suspect remained unidentified in the early stages of the investigation and was later arrested. No officers were shot, but several were injured during the vehicle stop. The victim inside the home was not hurt.

Fresno State urged people to avoid the Shaw and Maple area while police investigated the armed confrontation near campus.

In April 2025, Fresno police released surveillance and body-camera video that showed the suspects entering by force and struggling to move the safe. The footage also showed the suspects in ballistic vests and calling themselves police. By June 2026, Amicho Mancia, Antwoine Mancia and Aaron Guery were each sentenced in Fresno County Superior Court to eight years in prison under a stipulated agreement. At sentencing, the judge referred to Officer Rose, whose patrol car was struck during the pursuit, and said the crash had a life-changing impact on her and her family.