Charges filed against suspect in murder of Selma Police Officer Gonzalo Carrasco, Jr.
FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — On Thursday, the Fresno County District Attorney's Office filed charges against Nathaniel Michael Dixon in the murder of Selma Police Officer Gonzalo Carrasco, Jr.
The Felony Complaint lists a series of charges allegedly committed by Nathaniel Michael Dixon.
The charges are:
- One (1) Count of First Degree Murder
- One (1) Enhancement of Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm causing Death
- One (1) Special Circumstance of Murder of a Police Officer
- One (1) Enhancement of Murder of a Police Officer
- One (1) Count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm
The 23-year-old of Selma also has a prior violent felony conviction, which is a strike offense. According to the charging document, if Dixon is convicted of all charges, he will face life without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. Currently, the District Attorney's Office is working to decipher whether to "seek the death penalty."
A decision regarding whether to seek the death penalty will be announced at a later date.
According to the charging document released on Thursday, the District Attorney's Office alleges on January 31, Officer Carrasco was patrolling in the 2600 block of Pine Street in Selma when he was notified of a suspicious person by a nearby homeowner. Officer Carrasco was alerted of the suspicious person and pulled his patrol car over to speak with the individual, identified as Nathaniel Michael Dixon.
Dixon then began to walk toward the homeowner's property when Officer Carrasco exited his patrol car to speak with Dixon. He then turned and fired several shots at Officer Carrasco. According to the report, Officer Carrasco was shot multiple times. Dixon fled the scene.
Officer Carrasco died of his injuries following surgery at Community Regional Medical Center late Tuesday evening.
Fresno Sheriff's deputies arrested Dixon on January 31 in Selma, CA and immediately booked him into the Fresno County Jail. Dixon is scheduled to be arraigned on February 3 at 8:30 A.M. at the Fresno County Superior Court.
