Refugio Alvarez, 45

Fresno, California
January 30, 2017

Agencies: Fresno County Sheriff’s Office California

Cause of death: Shooting

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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

Refugio Alvarez, 45, dialed 911 saying there were intruders in his home. When Fresno County Sheriff's deputies arrived, Alvarez answered the door holding a handgun and machete. When he didn't drop the weapons when asked he was tasered--and when that didn't make him drop the weapons, he was shot and killed.

The incident happened near the 3400 block of Terrace Avenue around 5 a.m. this morning.

After obtaining a search warrant, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office spent most of the day searching through Alvarez's home. With units still there as of press time.

His girlfriend, Bobbie Alvarez, was there when Refugio Alvarez was shot. She's can't believe the love of her life is gone.

"His life is gone, nobody could ever give that back," Bobbie Alvarez said. "Whatever mistakes were made, sorry is not enough because he is still gone."

Bobbie Alvarez often described Refugio Alvarez, whose nickname is "Junior," as someone who would be willing to give the shirt off his back for a stranger.

Refugio Alvarez's sister, who did not want to be named, was visibly upset at the news of her brother's death. She's confused by the whole incident.

"I'm still trying to understand why they would shoot him after they tasered him and he was going down. I just can't understand that, (the deputies) shot him like five times."

Multiple deputies are on administrative leave, we don't know the exact number. Also, we're told there's still no evidence there were intruders inside Refugio Alvarez's home.

This is the second officer involved shooting in our area, following the one involving the Fresno Police Department over the weekend.