UPDATE: A Central Fresno man, John Gentry, has just pleaded not guilty to the murder of his neighbor, Mark Tarasevic, marking the city’s 22nd murder of the year. Gentry appeared in court wearing a red jumpsuit on Monday, denying all allegations against him through his Public Defender, Tina Wong.
The incident occurred last week when police responded to reports of a gunshot near Clinton Avenue and Bond Street. Investigators say Tarasevic, aged 74, died from a single bullet wound to the upper body. Authorities have classified the incident as a “neighbor disturbance,” raising questions about the nature of the confrontation.
Legal analyst Tony Capozzi commented on the case, questioning whether the victim was armed and if Gentry acted in self-defense. He emphasized the importance of forensic evidence, asking, “Did the police perform a gunshot residue test on this defendant? Did they check his hands?” Capozzi noted that investigators have recovered the alleged murder weapon but said more information is needed to connect it definitively to Gentry.
Gentry’s defense team requested a delay in proceedings, pushing back the preliminary hearing, where prosecutors will present their case. Fresno County Superior Court Judge Robert Mangano addressed Gentry, confirming that he would waive the 10-court-day rule but retain the 60-court-day rule for the preliminary hearing. Capozzi supported this decision, suggesting that the ongoing investigation and holiday season could delay police report completion.
As the investigation unfolds, Gentry is scheduled to return to court on January 22 and February 5. He remains in custody at the Fresno County Jail with a bail set at $1.5 million.
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