"Officers arrived within minutes and located a pair of individuals suffering from gunshot wounds," Fresno Police Lieutenant Paul Cervantes said.
Investigators have identified the murder victim as 22-year-old Anthony Calderon. He was shot in the torso.
A 28-year-old was also shot. He is now recovering at the hospital and is expected to survive.
A third man walked away unscathed.
"This isn't just another crime," Cervantes said. "This is a reckless and brutal assault that endangered the lives of many and shattered a family."
The heartbreak came early on Thanksgiving morning as Cervantes says the victims were smoking a cigarette when the shooters approached them and fired more than 50 rounds.
One neighbor told Action News the shots sounded like fireworks.
The shots tore through vehicles and riddled the sidewalk with evidence. Police have already discovered some clues.
"I can tell you there were three different types of rounds fired," Cervantes said.
He says the victims were targeted and confirmed they were not gang members and did not shoot back at their attackers.
"These are the types of cases that really have a tendency to make us question, 'Why?'" Cervantes said. "We're always looking for a motive."
Police are still trying to piece together what led up to the violence, but the holiday is hampering their investigation.
It has been difficult to find nearby businesses with surveillance video.
Detectives are now asking neighbors to come forward with tips.
"Things in that video may be innocuous," Cervantes said. "It may not seem like it's a very big deal. But for detectives, it's a very big piece of the puzzle. Unfamiliar people on foot (or) unfamiliar vehicles in the area."
With a month to go until the New Year, the Thanksgiving Day violence marks Fresno's 28th murder of the year. At this time last year, police had recorded 32 murders.
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