3 officers shot near Fresno, Calif.

Arson suspect reportedly opens fire on deputies serving warrant
NBC, msnbc.com and news services
updated 14 minutes ago

FRESNO, Calif. - A suspect in an arson opened fire Thursday on deputies and a fire investigator trying to serve an arrest warrant, authorities said. Three law-enforcement officers were shot.

The victims were taken to a local hospital. Two officers — a Fresno County sheriff's deputy shot in the side under his armpit and a Reedley police officer wounded in the head — were in critical condition, The Fresno Bee reported.

A third officer, a sheriff's deputy, was shot in the shoulder. His condition was not known, the Bee reported.

A witness, Bret McArron, told KSEE-TV the shooting occurred at a house in an impoverished neighborhood with a lot of mobile homes in the community of Minkler in eastern Fresno County.

The gunman barricaded himself inside the house and fire repeatedly on law enforcement officials, sheriff's spokesman Chris Curtice said.

Jim Stone, 46, who lives about 100 feet from the surrounded home, said he was evacuated after the shooting erupted. Stone said he heard what sounded like hundreds of shots.

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