Francisco Sanchez

Francisco Sanchez is remembered by his family as a good man, a devoted husband, and a loving father. The 30-year-old Hispanic man had been married to his wife, Ashley, for ten years, and together they were raising their five-year-old son in Stockton, California. His wife shared that he was a Jehovah's Witness, a man of faith whose life was centered on his family. That life was violently stolen from him in a public plaza on a Friday night, leaving a void in the hearts of those who loved him and shocking the local community.

On the evening of April 25, 2014, Francisco went to the Janet Leigh Downtown Plaza for dinner. At approximately 10 p.m., a confrontation broke out under the dome of the City Centre Theatre, also known as the Downtown Stockton Cineplex. The altercation escalated with brutal swiftness, ending in gunfire. Francisco was shot multiple times. He succumbed to his injuries at the scene, his life cut short in a popular area filled with people enjoying their evening.

The Stockton Police Department launched a homicide investigation into the brazen killing. Detectives believed the argument that led to the shooting may have originated inside the nearby Misaki Japanese Restaurant. They released surveillance video to the public showing several individuals they sought to identify in connection with the crime. In the days that followed, Ashley Sanchez made an emotional public plea for help. "My husband was a good man and nothing is going to bring back my husband," she said, "but to know the people responsible for this will have to pay and justice will be served in finding them."

The community responded with numerous tips, which helped investigators identify three persons of interest in May 2014: Michael Moreno, 24, Jimmie Zavala, 24, and Miguel Gallardo, 19. Police stated that Zavala and Gallardo were documented members of a Norteno street gang. Investigators were clear, however, that Francisco Sanchez himself had no gang affiliations. Later that month, police elevated Michael Moreno's status to the primary suspect in the murder, warning that he should be considered armed and dangerous.

The investigation saw a significant development in October 2014 when Moreno was arrested nearly 2,000 miles away in Mason City, Iowa. His arrest, however, was for an unrelated federal case involving the distribution of methamphetamine shipped from Stockton. At the time, Stockton police expressed hope that Moreno's capture would provide new momentum for their investigation and allow them to extradite him back to California to face charges for Francisco’s murder. Moreno later pleaded guilty in the federal drug conspiracy case and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison.

Despite the initial progress and the arrest of the primary suspect on other charges, the case of Francisco Sanchez's murder has not reached a public conclusion in California's justice system. As of April 2026, there have been no publicly available court records or official announcements confirming that Michael Moreno, Jimmie Zavala, or Miguel Gallardo were ever charged with or convicted for the killing of Francisco Sanchez. The case remains a painful and unresolved chapter for his grieving family.

A reward of up to $10,000 was offered for information leading to an arrest in the case. The Stockton Police Department continues to ask anyone with information regarding the homicide of Francisco Sanchez to contact them at (209) 937-8377 or Stockton Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600.