Thursday, August 25, 2011

Fresno, CA: Central Fresno stabbing death likely justifiable homicide

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno Police have identified a man who suffered stab wounds before crashing his car into a Central Fresno building Tuesday. Police say 35 year old Terrill Senegal had just left his ex-girlfriend's apartment, where the two had been involved in a dispute. Fresno police say the couple had a history of domestic violence and Senegal had been the agressor. "While visiting they got into an argument and during that argument, he started punching her in the face and at that time she stabbed him in the chest area," said Lt. Mark Salazar with the Fresno Police Department. Police say the 29 year old woman also suffered significant injuries and it's unlikely she'll face any charges.

The dispute happened on the same day a domestic violence incident in the North Valley ended with the deaths of two people. Merced County Sheriff's Investigators say a 22 year old man shot and killed a woman yesterday and then drove to Fresno and took his own life.

Justin Red, a spokesperson for the Marjaree Mason Center in Fresno, said the need for emergency shelter and other services remains as high as ever. "Victims are staying in our shelter longer than ever, about 60 days on average. That's up a full month from where it was five years ago," said Red.

Fresno Police said the number of domestic violence incidents tends to go up in the summer months. For example, from January through March of this year, they reported 487 felony cases, which include aggravated assault, rape, and homicide. From May through July, that number went up to 547. Police believe that rise in the summer months could be attributed in part to alcohol.

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