CA Man Shoots At His Family On Christmas, Killing Two

FRESNO, CA — A man was arrested on suspicion of killing two people after he opened fired on his family while they were opening Christmas presents on Saturday. His grandmother and his father's girlfriend died in the shooting, officials said.

Austin Alvarez, 23, of Reedly, was arrested in connection with the shooting.

"During the visit, Alvarez fired shots striking his grandmother and his father’s girlfriend," the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a news release. "As Alvarez was leaving the house, he noticed his father in a parked vehicle. Alvarez fired shots in his direction, but did not strike him."

Deputies arrived to the home on Goodfellow Avenue in Reedly around 1:45 p.m., where they found 58-year-old Magdalena Alvarez and 39 year old Meisa Rashid with fatal gunshot wounds.

Alvaraz had already fled from the home in his GMC pickup truck, officials said. He was taken into custody a short time later about 10 miles away from the home.

Deputies have not established a clear motive and the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information was asked to contact Detective Richard Antunez at 559-600-8221 or Valley Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867.