Last night at approximately 6:15 pm, the Sheriff’s Office received a 911 hang up call from a cell phone that originated in the area of Howard north of Shields, near the town of Biola.
While deputies responded to the area, a citizen called in to report an injured subject at a vacant lot located in the 3000 block of N Howard Ave. The caller advised he was following a white colored Chevy HHR that had picked up a male subject who had fled the vacant lot on foot.
It was later determined an additional Hispanic male and Hispanic female were also inside the vehicle.
The caller watched as the Chevy drove westbound on Shields and then crashed into a vineyard on the northwest corner of Shields & Vineland, (approximately 1.5 miles from the murder scene.) All three subjects then fled on foot.
Several patrol units responded, along with Eagle One, and were able to set up a large perimeter in the area. After a short time, the female and one of the males were located hiding under a bridge on Madera Ave just north of Shields approximately 1 mile from the crash scene.
The two were identified as 24 year old Maria Esther Mansanalez, and 23 year old Adrian Ceja Aceves, both of Fresno. Both were arrested and later booked into the Fresno County Jail on murder charges.
The victim, identified as 38 year old George Salwasser Jr, is believed to have interrupted the suspects as they were in the process of stripping parts from a stolen pick-up truck. The truck had been reported stolen from the City of Fresno earlier in the day. Detectives believe a confrontation took place between Salwasser and the suspects during which time he was shot and killed. Salwasser died at the scene as a result of his injuries.
Detectives have identified an outstanding suspect. 25 year old Fabian Mansanalez is also wanted in connection with the murder. Mansanalez is described as a Hispanic male, 5-10/ 170 pounds with brown hair and eyes. He is a self-admitted gang member from Fresno, and is known to frequent the Calwa area in south Fresno. Mansanalez should be considered armed & dangerous.
Detectives are working to identify any other suspects that may have been involved.
CrimeStoppers has already offered a $2000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Fabian Mansanalez.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Fabian Manzanalez, or anyone who has information on this investigation, is asked to contact the sheriff’s Office at 600-3111, or CrimeStoppers at 498-STOP(7867).