In the early hours of July 5, 2023, at approximately 2:36 a.m., Fresno police responded to a ShotSpotter alert indicating 20 rounds fired near East Iowa Avenue and North Fifth Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered 29-year-old Ramiro Mendoza Jr., a member of the unhoused community, lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds. He was immediately transported to Community Regional Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators determined that Mendoza had been targeted, though the motive remained unclear at the time. Detectives identified 18-year-old Elijah Oupathame, an active gang member, as the primary suspect. Oupathame was reportedly celebrating the Fourth of July at a nearby residence when, for reasons still unknown, he confronted and fatally shot Mendoza.
On July 27, 2024, over a year after the incident, Clovis Police arrested Oupathame for a vehicle burglary. During the arrest, he provided a false name, but fingerprint analysis revealed his true identity and his connection to Mendoza's murder. Subsequently, Oupathame was charged with Mendoza's murder and booked into the Fresno County Jail, facing multiple felony charges.
Additionally, authorities linked Oupathame to an unrelated shooting that occurred on December 15, 2022, during which several residences were struck by gunfire. The Fresno Police Department continues to seek information regarding these incidents and encourages anyone with relevant details to come forward.
