Man killed in ambush at smoke shop identified by Fresno police. He was shot as he entered

A man killed in a midday ambush in a busy Fresno shopping center was identified Friday by police.

The violence happened shortly before noon on Wednesday at a smoke shop on Blackstone and Princeton avenues, where two groups happened upon each other, police said.

Joseph Riley, 26, was killed when he was shot while walking into the smoke shop, police said. A 19-year-old man with the victim, who was his brother, was shot in the face and was in stable condition, police said in a Friday update.

They were apparently unaware that two armed men inside had spotted them as they pulled into a parking space outside the shop, police said.

The injured man was waiting outside in a car and was fired upon by the gunmen, police said.

Police initially said the man in the car returned fire, but Lt. Paul Cervantes said Friday that neither of the victims fired a weapon.

The Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium unit is taking part in the search to identify the two gunmen inside and a third man who was with them. They ran from the scene.

Police said the attack was caught on surveillance cameras, and neither victim was connected to a gang.

Officers were still investigating if the shooters had gang ties.

Police said the shopping center was bustling the day of violence, and people shopping were fortunate not to get shot by gunfire.

The killing was the 59th so far this year in Fresno. There were 74 in all of 2021.

“All of these are tragic incidents; doesn’t matter who was involved,” Cervantes said. “During the holidays, it makes it even worse.

Anyone with information about the shootings can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867.