Fresno Man Who Saw Daily Toll of Violence Joins List of Victims

Kevin Waterston dealt with the dead every day in his job removing bodies for the Fresno County coroner’s office, but he never got used to random, senseless killings.

Friday night, Waterston became one of those victims when he was shot to death while trying to prevent a car theft.

“He was in pain over the shootings and death he saw, and then he winds up being a victim,” said his brother, Bob Waterston.

Police had made no arrests by Monday but suspected that the killing might be related to juvenile gangs. Ironically, Bob Waterston, a Fresno fire captain, is heavily involved in gang intervention.

“I lost my brother to the exact same people I am trying to help,” Bob Waterston said.

Police said Kevin Waterston and his fiancee saw two youths trying to steal a car at a downtown apartment complex where he lived. He went to his apartment and called 911, then got his handgun and ordered the driver out of the car.

The driver swerved but missed Waterston.

A third person who apparently was serving as a lookout fired several shots, hitting Waterston in the back of the head. The three youths then fled on foot.