Attorney General Bonta: Latent Print Match Leads to an Arrest in a 2016 Cold Case Homicide

FRESNO— California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto today announced the California Department of Justice (DOJ) provided a latent print match that has led to an arrest for the brutal 2016 murder of 68-year-old Gurcharan Singh Gill who was stabbed to death while he worked at a Central Fresno convenience store.
 
“I am incredibly proud of the endless hours of behind the scenes work our Bureau of Forensic Services put into this case,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “We are hopeful that this arrest will bring justice and closure to this devastating case. Thank you to our partners at Fresno Police Department Office and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. This arrest proves that when we work together, we get results.”
 
“This case is a powerful example of collaboration. The California Department of Justice was instrumental in the investigation of this murder,” said Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto. “From their initial response to the crime scene the night of the murder, to the relentless work of their forensic experts that was instrumental in identifying our suspect through latent print analysis — a breakthrough that revived a 2016 homicide investigation. Without the dedication and expertise of DOJ personnel, we wouldn’t be here today announcing this progress."

“Mr. Gill was the victim of a senseless and violent act, and for nearly a decade, his family has carried the weight of unanswered questions," said Fresno County District Attoreny Lisa Smittcamp. "Today, we announce criminal charges that represent a significant step toward justice. This outcome is the result of an unwavering commitment by our office, in close coordination with the Attorney General’s Office, the FPD, and the Department of Justice’s forensic team, whose recent identification of a fingerprint match at the crime scene was pivotal. Although the defendant was a juvenile at the time of the offense, the severity of this crime demands accountability. We will continue to pursue justice to the fullest extent of the law, regardless of how much time has passed.”
 
On New Years Day, an unknown suspect entered the Fresno convenience store that Mr. Gill was working at. The suspect beat and stabbed Mr. Gill then robbed the store. Once Fresno Police Department arrived, Mr. Gill had succumbed to his injuries and DOJ was called to process the scene for physical evidence. According to surveillance video, the suspect was seen placing his palm on the glass countertop in the store and touching many surfaces. DOJ was able to obtain latent prints and DNA, but they yielded no matches in the respective databases.
 
Recently, the suspect got arrested in Stanislaus County and his palm prints were collected. After nine years, there was finally a match. Fresno Police Department located the suspect in Modesto area, and he has been arrested. The case is being prosecuted by the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. 
 
A fact sheet outlining the work of the DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services can be found here.