FRESNO (KMJ) — The man alleged to be responsible for the series of random shootings at vehicles in Fresno and Madera Counties pleaded not guilty inside Fresno County Superior Court.
Jorge Javier Gracia’s arraignment Friday morning was to answer to five felony charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and two other felony charges related to possession of a firearm.
According to Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the series of shootings started November 27th and continued until December 17th. A total of 10 incidents were reported, with eight in Fresno County and two in Madera County (click here to read more).
The 42 year old suspect was arrested in Kerman on January 8th, when an off-duty corrections officer with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reported a truck pulling up next to his vehicle and the driver point a handgun through the window.
“As he drove into the City of Kerman he pulled into a gas station,” detailed Sheriff Margaret Mims.
“The suspect followed him. The correctional officer pointed his gun at the suspect, told him to get out of the vehicle. The suspect did and Kerman Police Department responded and took the suspect into custody.”
Kerman PD officers realized that the suspect’s vehicle matched the description of the truck Fresno County Sheriff’s Deputies were looking for. After serving a search warrant on the truck, members of the Sheriff’s Forensics Laboratory established a link between the rounds recovered from the vehicles fired at and the gun found inside.
Jorge Javier Gracia’s bail currently stands at $1.2 million, and there is a possibility of federal charges added to that.
“We’re still investigating that with the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” added Sheriff Mims. “But for the time being we have some very good state charges that we’re working with the District Attorney on.”
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
