In a devastating incident that unfolded on the eve of Easter, a Fresno man, Jampier Quintero, lost his life after becoming an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of a gang-related shooting. The shooting occurred at the Los Viejones Barbershop in central Fresno, a location that had no intention of becoming a site for violence. Quintero, a dedicated father, was taking his sons to the barbershop for a routine haircut when the senseless act of violence erupted, changing his family’s life forever.
A Family’s Loss
Quintero, who was a loving father of two, had left his home in the hope of giving his children a simple experience of getting their haircuts for the Easter holiday. However, as fate would have it, his visit to the barbershop turned into a tragic nightmare. As he stood outside the barbershop, Quintero was shot and killed when an altercation between rival gang members spiraled out of control.
Quintero’s widow, Gabriela Lopez, spoke out after the arrests of two men involved in the shooting were made public. She expressed the emotional weight of seeing the faces of the men responsible for her husband’s death. Her raw emotions, captured in her statements, reflected the agony of a wife who had lost her partner and now had to face the faces of those accused of taking him away. She described the sensation of emptiness she felt in her stomach when she saw the mugshot of Kobe Chantharangsy, the 18-year-old suspect accused of pulling the trigger. The anger and sadness in her voice painted a picture of the unbearable loss she continues to grapple with daily.
The Suspect and the Incident
Fresno police revealed that Kobe Chantharangsy was the individual who fired the fatal shots that killed Quintero. The shooting occurred during a verbal confrontation between rival gang members. Chantharangsy, while in the middle of his own haircut, produced a handgun from underneath his drape and began shooting at the rival gang members. His bullets, however, hit the wrong target. Quintero, who had no part in the gang dispute, was fatally shot while standing outside the barbershop.
The shooting spree did not end with Quintero’s death. In addition to him, two other men were also shot, but police believe Chantharangsy’s intended target was those individuals. After the incident, Chantharangsy, along with an accomplice, fled the scene in a getaway car driven by Adrian Echeverria. The police quickly pieced together evidence linking Chantharangsy to a shooting that occurred just a day earlier in northeast Fresno, on April 18th. The authorities managed to track down the suspect, and on April 26th, Chantharangsy was arrested, marking a crucial step towards justice.
Arrest and Charges
Chantharangsy was arrested without any previous criminal record, though he was known to law enforcement due to his gang affiliations. The young suspect now faces severe charges, including one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder. If convicted, Chantharangsy could be sentenced to life in prison or even face the death penalty, depending on the outcome of the court proceedings.
The other suspect, Adrian Echeverria, was arrested as well. Echeverria has a lengthy criminal history, which includes convictions for burglary and human trafficking. His past criminal activities have earned him a spot on the Megan’s Law registry, a fact that further tarnishes his involvement in this tragic event. Echeverria is scheduled to face charges alongside Chantharangsy, and if convicted, he could be sentenced to six years in prison.
A Grieving Wife’s Plea
Throughout this painful ordeal, Gabriela Lopez has continued to honor her late husband’s memory. In her public statement, she pointed out how the news of the shooting had been overshadowed by negative stereotypes about immigrants. Lopez, a Venezuelan immigrant, highlighted that her husband was a hardworking man who had come to the United States seeking a better life for his family. She expressed that Quintero embodied the qualities of an immigrant the country needs — someone who contributed to society and was dedicated to his family.
Her message was clear: she wanted the world to understand that her husband was not a statistic or part of the negative narrative often associated with immigrants. He was a father, a husband, and a man of integrity who had been taken from his family too soon. In the face of this tragedy, Lopez’s strength to share her husband’s story is a testament to the resilience of a woman who refuses to let the memory of her husband be reduced to the violence of his untimely death.
The Road Ahead for the Family
As the investigation continues, and the suspects face their day in court, Lopez and her children must continue to navigate life without Quintero. The pain of losing a loved one, especially under such senseless circumstances, is immeasurable. The journey towards justice may provide some solace, but it can never replace the loss of a father, husband, and friend. The road ahead will be one filled with grief, but also a determination to remember Quintero for the life he lived, the love he gave, and the legacy he left behind.
