Seven Suspects Rob Man at Fresno Blackstone Supermarket, Authorities Investigate

Fresno police are investigating after a man was targeted and robbed by seven suspects who fled a supermarket on Blackstone Avenue, authorities and local reports say. The Fresno Bee described the incident as a “brazen daylight crime,” while a social media post on Threads reported it happened “just before 9 p.m.,” a timing discrepancy investigators have not yet resolved.

Police have not released the man’s name, whether he was injured, or detailed suspect descriptions in the seven-person robbery, and no arrests have been announced in connection with that case. The Fresno Police Department is handling the investigation; the public is asked to call the department at (559) 621-6209 with tips or remain anonymous through Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP, local television station KMPH advised.

The supermarket robbery on Blackstone is one of several violent incidents reported on or near Blackstone Avenue in recent days, but officials have not linked them. Around 9:45 p.m. Friday, three masked men armed with guns entered the Smoke N Vape shop at Blackstone and Cambridge, and two of those suspects were shot and killed when the shop owner confronted them, ABC30 reported. The Fresno County Sheriff’s office identified the deceased as Chris Casas, 22, and Jesus Gonzalez, 18, and said a third suspect remains at large; authorities have not said whether the business owner will face charges. Robert Simpson of The Range and Police Science Institute said Americans do have the right to protect themselves, especially when someone shows intent to harm.

Earlier in the overnight hours, just after midnight, two men armed with a gun walked into the Save Mart at Clinton and Blackstone and confronted employees, ABC7 reported. One worker was struck in the head and a third employee was tied up and left in a refrigerated area, while two employees managed to escape and flag down a patrol car. “We don't know how they got inside the store, either hid after the store closed. We're trying to determine that,” Lt. Tom Rowe said as investigators review surveillance video.

Separately, FOX26 reported officers received calls around 5:45 p.m. last Sunday about a strong-armed robbery at a Save Mart near Ashlan and West, and two people are wanted in that case. KMPH also reported that “Two suspects were captured on security cameras” and that officers say suspects left a scene in a white Nissan Altima, details officials have been seeking to match to specific incidents.

Fresno police stress these incidents remain under active investigation and are urging anyone with information, surveillance footage, or dash-cam video from the Blackstone corridor to contact investigators at (559) 621-6209 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP.