FRESNO, CA — A Fresno County judge ruled Wednesday that there is enough evidence for the defendant to stand trial in the 2023 killing of Selma Police Officer Gonzalo Carrasco Jr.
The ruling followed a Jan. 21 preliminary hearing, where the judge reviewed the evidence to decide if the case should move forward.
ABC30 Action News reported that seven people took the stand during the hearing, including a coroner, witnesses, and Detective Matthew Hughes. Hughes recounted the officer’s final moments, stating that before Carrasco died, he described the shooter as a young Hispanic man with a specific facial tattoo.
Siblings Jose Valdez and Jana Garcia, who live in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred, also testified and identified the defendant in court. Valdez told the court he saw the man turn and shoot the officer. Witnesses said the shooting happened after someone told the suspect he did not belong in the neighborhood. Garcia testified that, while standing at her front door, she saw the suspect shoot the gun.
Officer Carrasco was killed in January 2023 while on duty in Selma. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to the charges related to the shooting.
The case will now move to the next phase. The court has scheduled a formal arraignment—a court date where the defendant officially hears the charges and enters a plea—for April 2, 2026.
