Mystery as body is found at Fashion Fair Mall in Fresno after mayor blasts ‘extremely disturbing increase in violence’

POLICE are investigating after a body was found outside a mall on Monday morning.

The discovery comes two days after a teen was stabbed inside the mall, and nearly one year after a shooting sent customers running for cover.

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The latest investigation began on Monday, when someone flagged down an officer near the Fashion Fair Mall around 9.15am local time.

The person notified authorities about a suspicious man in the area, according to Fresno NBC affiliate KSEE.

When the officer checked on the man, they found no signs of life. The individual, believed to be a homeless man, appeared to have been dead for several hours before the report, the officer said.

Cops at the scene said a syringe was found in his hand as first responders declared the man dead.

Police said there was no reason to believe any criminal activity occurred, and that an autopsy and further search of the body would help determine if foul play was involved.

The discovery of the body followed a stabbing inside the mall on Saturday night that police say stemmed from a fight.

Two boys, a 16-year-old and 17-year-old, were taken to the hospital as officers tracked down a suspect in the attack, local affiliate KFSN reported.

The mayor of Fresno, California – a city near Yosemite National Park – expressed his concern about the increase of violence at the mall.

“I am extremely disturbed by the increase in violence at Fashion Fair Mall with this latest stabbing,” Jerry Dyer said in a tweet on Saturday.

“People should be able to enjoy their shopping experience and not have to worry about these types of incidents.”

The police chief echoed Dyer’s concern and ensured the city’s citizens that he and his fellow community leaders were taking action against the violence.

“The perception is that violence is up because of some high-profile incidents,” said Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama.

“We’re going to do everything we can to make [residents] feel safe in this community.”

The mall management team will be meeting this week to discuss a comprehensive safety plan, which includes increasing police presence at the mall, Dyer said.

In April 2021, mall-goers fled after gunshots were fired when a fight between two gangs broke out.

“We just heard eight to nine rounds. Everybody was like, ‘get down; run, run!,'” Diana Quintero, who was shopping with her daughter, told Fox 26 News.

One person was known to be shot, but he ran off before officials could help him, according to a local news outlet.

Police identified all three suspects as gang members.