Man Found Shot to Death on Parlier Farm

The man's brother discovered his body around 1:30 Wednesday afternoon.

The farm is on Smith Avenue between Adams and Lincoln. 

As the sun started to set, family members gathered at the home on Smith Avenue where the victim was killed.

The 49-year-old man had gone home for a lunch break around eleven Wednesday morning.

He was found, by his brother, dead - two hours later. 

“We found this gentleman lying beside the residence dead of an apparent gunshot wound,” said Chris Curtice with the Fresno Sheriff’s Department.

The man's family didn't want to talk to us on camera.

Neither did friends who came to the scene.

But they told us the victim would have turned 50 this July.

He worked in the fields and was a caretaker for several homes in this rural area.

He was also part of the neighborhood watch program.

Fernando Esparza also tries to look out for his neighbors. 

“When I see a car that I don't see during the day I’ll let my dad know or somebody like I don't know this car. I seen this car,” said Fernando Esparza, who lives near the home where the murder happened.

And he's now more wary. 

“I’m going to be extra careful. I'm going to be extra careful ‘cause that's something serious that happened,” Fernando said.

There's no word on suspects or a motive yet for this crime.

If you were in the area of Smith Avenue and Adams Avenue at lunchtime Wednesday and saw anything suspicious, you're asked to give the Fresno Sheriff's department a call at (559) 488-3111.