Gang member released from prison in July back in custody for multiple crimes, Fresno police say

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Fresno police are releasing new details about a known gang member who was reportedly released from custody in July but is now back in prison.

Fresno Acting Police Chief Mindy Casto says 28-year-old Noah Devyn Rios is responsible for eight separate crimes that rocked Fresno neighborhoods between July and September.

Seven of the cases involved shootings.

“On August 4, he shot at a house he thought his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend was visiting, a completely unknown residence. Fortunately, no one was injured in that shooting. A few days later, Noah Rios shot at a car near Fresno State because it drove past his apartment twice,” Casto said.

The shooting continued until September 4. No one was killed, but one person was injured.

The victim is still in the hospital.

Authorities said they used ballistics evidence, surveillance video and witness statements to link the crimes to Rios.

Police arrested him last week at the county probation office and executed six search warrants.

They presented some of the evidence they believed Rios should never have had.

“This is an SKS rifle that fires 7.62 mm cartridges, which are very powerful. They can, of course, tear apart houses, vehicles, etc. That was the firearm we seized,” explained Casto.

Rios is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a weapon.

Last year, Rios pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to a 2023 murder in Fresno that left a family member dead and occurred just feet away from a six-year-old child.

“He was released in July after serving less than a year,” Casto said.

Casto says prison officials released Rios early from his 32-month sentence because he had earned recognition in the prison system.

His summer crime spree began less than two weeks later.

“We seem to have skipped the incarceration part. And I'm not sure how comprehensive the rehabilitation services are, but Noah Rios was clearly not rehabilitated and was released far too early,” Casto said.

Rios is due to appear in court on Monday.

He has already pleaded not guilty to some charges related to the summer shootings, and prosecutors said they may file additional charges in the coming days.

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