Man accused of killing Selma police officer named. He has a criminal history

Thaddeus Miller
·2 min read
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The man accused of gunning down a Selma police officer was identified Wednesday by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office as Nathaniel Dixon.

The 23-year-old was arrested within a half hour of allegedly killing officer Gonzalo Carrasco Jr., a two-year veteran of Selma Police Department, police have said.

Officers recovered a weapon not far from where Dixon was arrested, police said.

Carrasco was flagged down by a resident who said a suspicious man was in front of a home on Pine Street, which is south of Rose Avenue and west of Highway 99, the sheriff’s office said in a Wednesday update.

He got out of his patrol car and approached Dixon, who allegedly shot the officer several times about 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, deputies said.

The officer was rushed to Community Regional Medical Center, and about four hours later, police announced he had died.

Nathaniel Dixon, 23, was accused of the shooting death of a Selma police officer on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
Nathaniel Dixon, 23, was accused of the shooting death of a Selma police officer on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.

Carrasco was the son of farmworkers and an expectant father, according to authorities.

It was the first time an officer had been killed in the line of duty in Selma Police Department’s history. The department was formed in 1893, according to the sheriff’s office.

Dixon has a criminal background that includes charges for firearms possession, robbery and drug possession, court records show.

He has been arrested several times by Selma police since 2019.

In 2020, he was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance while armed, carrying a loaded firearm in public and carrying a concealed firearm.

In a deal with prosecutors, Dixon pleaded no contest to being a felon in possession of a firearm and the three other felonies were dropped.

Dixon was sentenced to 5 years and four months on March 7, 2022, but was released in September 2022, based on an accumulation of time credits calculated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

As part of his release, Dixon was placed on Post Release Community Supervision for 2 years, 11 months and 30 days as part of California’s AB 109 law, commonly called prison realignment.

In February, his time on supervision was extended to 3 years and 21 days, after he failed to report to his probation officer.

Gonzalo Carrasco Jr., 24, was the Selma officer slain in the line of duty on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
Gonzalo Carrasco Jr., 24, was the Selma officer slain in the line of duty on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.

He is held without bail at the Fresno County Jail, according to jail records.

Dixon is expected to appear in Fresno County Superior Court on Friday, according to the sheriff’s spokesperson.

Selma Police and CHP officers walk east along Rose Avenue just west of 99 after a shooting incident Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 in Selma.
Selma Police and CHP officers walk east along Rose Avenue just west of 99 after a shooting incident Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 in Selma.
Gladys Resendez, right, peers through the fencing at Eric White Elementary School waiting for her 10 year old to be released as she and hundreds of other parents waited after the school was locked down following a shooting incident Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 in Selma.
Gladys Resendez, right, peers through the fencing at Eric White Elementary School waiting for her 10 year old to be released as she and hundreds of other parents waited after the school was locked down following a shooting incident Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 in Selma.
A Fresno County Sheriff deputy carries his weapon towards his vehicle near Eric White Elementary School after a shooting incident nearby Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 in Selma.
A Fresno County Sheriff deputy carries his weapon towards his vehicle near Eric White Elementary School after a shooting incident nearby Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 in Selma.
Law enforcement personnel stand outside Eric White Elementary School after a shooting incident nearby Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 in Selma.
Law enforcement personnel stand outside Eric White Elementary School after a shooting incident nearby Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 in Selma.
Fresno County Sheriff’s Offfice vehicles can be seen near the location of a reported shooting in Selma, California, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.
Fresno County Sheriff’s Offfice vehicles can be seen near the location of a reported shooting in Selma, California, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.
Law enforcement responds to a reported shooting in Selma, California, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.
Law enforcement responds to a reported shooting in Selma, California, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.
Law enforcement vehicles can be seen near the location of a reported shooting in Selma, California, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.
Law enforcement vehicles can be seen near the location of a reported shooting in Selma, California, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.
Family members of students at Eric White Elementary School wait outside the campus after it was locked down following the shooting of police officer about a block away in Selma, California, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.
Family members of students at Eric White Elementary School wait outside the campus after it was locked down following the shooting of police officer about a block away in Selma, California, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.