Maderan facing charge in shooting

A Madera man is facing attempted murder charges after reportedly shooting his own sister. According to Madera County Sheriff’s Cmdr. Bill Ward, deputies responded at 8 a.m. Thursday to a report of a vehicle collision and an apparently related shooting on Avenue 7, between roads 24 and 25.

California Highway Patrol officers had initially responded to a call about the collision, and, on arriving, found a woman with a gunshot wound in one of the vehicle. A suspect had fled after the crash.

The Madera County Sheriff’s Office and the CHP then worked to prevent the suspect from escaping.

“Several other agencies were called to assist, including the Fresno Sheriff’s Office K9 units, Madera Police officers from their Special Investigations Unit, and the Madera County District Attorney’s Office investigators,” Ward said.

Investigators reportedly found that the suspect, Albaro Molino, had encountered the other vehicle near Avenue 7 and Road 25. According to Ward, an argument broke out between the suspect, the victim, and the male occupant of the vehicle over relationship issues. Molino then reportedly opened fire into the vehicle, striking the female passenger, who was later revealed to be Molino’s sister.

The male driver reportedly accelerated his vehicle in an attempt to escape when Molino followed them. Ward stated that their vehicles struck each other several times until Molino’s vehicle hit a telephone pole and overturned. Molino was ejected, after which he fled the scene on foot.

Molino was later apprehended roughly half a mile from the scene of the incident, and was taken to Madera Community Hospital for treatment of injuries he suffered, and will face charges for attempted murder.

The victim was taken to a hospital in Fresno. According to Ward, she is expected to make a full recovery. Ward also said she is not believed to have been the intended target.