Thousands attend memorial for Fresno deputy killed in mobile home shootout

Thousands attend memorial for slain Fresno deputy

FRESNO, Calif. — Thousands of people have gathered in Fresno to honor a sheriff’s detective killed in a mobile home shootout last week.

Attendees quickly filled Peoples Church, which has a capacity of 2,500, on Wednesday morning. The overflow crowd was sent to tents outside where people could watch the memorial for Joel Wahlenmaier on video.

The 49-year-old was killed Feb. 25 while trying to serve a search warrant on Rick Liles, a suspect in several arsons and random shootings. Authorities say Liles opened fire with a high-powered rifle, sparking a daylong gunbattle that ended in his own death as well.

Wahlenmaier was a 12-year veteran of the department and father of two adult children.

Reedley Police Officer Javier Bejar also was mortally wounded and died Monday. His funeral is scheduled for March 8.