Juwan Priddie, 24, of Santa Maria, Seriously Injured in Fresno Police Shooting
FRESNO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (August 1, 2026) – A 24-year-old man identified as Juwan Priddie was seriously injured in a Fresno County police shooting by a home on Olive Avenue and Cornelia Avenue.
Fresno County officials are saying that the incident occurred around 6:30 PM on Tuesday. Police received reports of a potential home invasion.
Authorities describe the suspect as driving a white van that had a ladder on top of the roof. Roughly 19 minutes after that first call, they received a similar report at a home along Garfield Avenue and Shields Avenue.
Deputies arrived at the scene and encountered Juwan Priddie. At some point during that encounter, a physical altercation occurred with the deputy.
That officer pulled out his firearm and shot Juwan Priddie at least one time. He was transported to Community Regional Medical Center with critical injuries.
A full investigation into the police shooting remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Fresno County Police Shootings
Every person in California has certain rights afforded under the Constitution. This includes the right to not be subjected to excessive force by the authorities. Under California Penal Code § 835a(a)(1), “the authority to use physical force, conferred on peace officers by this section, is a serious responsibility that shall be exercised judiciously and with respect for human rights and dignity and for the sanctity of every human life. The Legislature further finds and declares that every person has a right to be free from excessive use of force by officers acting under color of law.” Police officers should take several different actions to avoid using excessive force.
- Slow: Police officers should do everything in their power to slow the encounter down and avoid rushing in.
- Distance: Police officers should create as much distance as possible with the suspect.
- Calm Communication: Police officers should work to de-escalate the encounter and use calm communication.
- Recognize: Police officers should be trained to recognize signs that a suspect is in a mental health crisis and take appropriate considerations.
When a police officer uses excessive force that causes injury to a suspect, they could be held legally responsible through a civil rights claim under 42 U.S. Code § 1983. In particular, a police department could be legally responsible for a suspect’s injuries if that officer failed to follow a safety rule propagated by their department. There are many safety rules related to dealing with any person who may be in the midst of a mental health crisis. Far too often, these rules are ignored with devastating results.
Collecting Evidence After Fresno County Police Shootings
Thousands of people are seriously injured or killed every year in encounters with law enforcement across the state of California. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, “More than four in ten people treated for non-fatal gunshot wounds from a police encounter were diagnosed with a mental health condition, an alcohol- or substance-related disorder, or both.” It is important that certain pieces of evidence are collected and preserved after any Fresno County police shooting.
- All body camera footage from the officers involved should be reviewed.
- Medical records related to a person’s injuries should be collected.
- Any person that may have witnessed the incident should be interviewed as early as possible.
- The actions of police officers leading up to the encounter should be investigated.
Much of the evidence associated with any police shooting can degrade or disappear over time. It is important that the evidence is collected and preserved as early as possible. Unfortunately, police departments are never particularly interested in punishing their own officers if they act negligently. It is important that victims of police brutality understand they do have rights. They are able to seek some measure of accountability for a civil action.
Investigating Fresno County Police Shootings
We at Carrazco Law were very concerned to hear about this police shooting of Juwan Priddie. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Any person that may have more information should reach out to investigators. The number of serious-injury police shootings across California in recent years remains deeply troubling.
Have you or a loved one been harmed by the excessive force of police officers in California? You may have legal recourse. Our team of experienced civil rights attorneys is here to support you. We care deeply that victims of police brutality get the medical and financial assistance that they need to move forward with their lives. You’re always welcome to contact us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
