On November 21, 2024, at approximately 12:51 p.m., employees at Fresno's Roeding Park discovered an unresponsive man near the Storyland area and promptly alerted emergency services. Upon arrival, emergency medical personnel found the individual, later identified as 44-year-old Solomone Toki from the Bay Area, with a gunshot wound to his left thigh. Despite immediate medical attention, Toki was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators determined that the gunshot wound was self-inflicted and led to Toki's death. An AK-47-style pistol was found beneath his body, and an illegal firearm was discovered in his backpack. Authorities believe the shooting was accidental.
Toki had an extensive criminal history in the Bay Area, including convictions for robbery, carjacking, and multiple weapons violations. At the time of his death, he was on post-release community supervision for firearm possession. Notably, Toki had no known interactions with law enforcement in Fresno, and the reasons for his presence in the city remain unclear.
The Fresno Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Toki's death. Authorities are seeking information to understand why he was in Fresno and armed with a firearm. Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact Detective J. Adney at (559) 621-2445, Detective M. Moreno at (559) 621-2443, or Valley Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP (7867).
