Police say Jeff Stubblefield, 36, rolled his vehicle near Shaw and Sixth early Wednesday morning. He was chasing a 22-year-old man who stole a car from his driveway, police said.
Friends say Stubblefield is likely partially paralyzed after suffering injuries to his spine during the crash. As of Thursday evening, he remained in the hospital. He faces more surgeries, friends said.
"Right now, it's kinda iffy. He's in bad shape," said Micah Bradbury, Stubblefield's close friend.
"I just can't imagine like this would happen to somebody. Like why they would have to choose his car. His house," said family friend Caitlin Wilson.
Wilson, who's called Stubblefield "Uncle" for years, had just gotten out of the hospital herself when she heard about the crash.
Fresno's HEAT Team recovered Stubblefield's car, a black Dodge Magnum, near Thesta and Weldon and took the suspect into custody. He's identified as Ernesto Espinoza, 22.
Police say Stubblefield was warming up his car in his driveway and had left it unattended then the theft occurred. Espinoza got in the car and took off. Wanting to protect his property, friends say Stubblefield chased after the thief in another car. He crashed his car near Shaw and Sixth, investigators said.
"(He's) not gonna be able to help take care of his kids, run at the park with his kids, like he's not gonna be able to do that anymore. It's just horrible," said Wilson.
Friends are now asking the public for help. Stubblefield worked full-time and is raising three kids with his long-time girlfriend. The two recently got engaged, friends said. She is attending school full-time, they added.
A fund has been set-up to help Stubblefield's family. You can made donations at any Educational Employees Credit Union under the "Stubblefield Family Fund." The account number is: 11792780.
Fresno Police say it's never a good idea to try to take the law into your own hands.
As of early Thursday evening, Espinoza remained in the Fresno County Jail on several charges.