The victim in Wednesday morning’s homicide in southeast Fresno is a transgender woman, the Fresno Police Department said.



Imer Eliu Alvarado, 34, of Fresno, was shot multiple times in the upper body near Belmont Avenue on Fourth Street, police said.

The identification released by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office was the name on the victim’s driver’s license.



The Police Department said around 3 a.m., Shot Spotter detected shots being fired in the area.



When officers arrived, they found a shooting victim. She was transported to an area hospital where she died.



Investigators said there were signs she was trying to run away.



Police have not deemed the shooting a hate crime at this point because a motive is still unknown.



Investigators are still looking for suspects.



“It’s very scary, especially for the people that live right by there,” said Bartazar Mendoza, a nearby resident.



Mendoza said he heard gunshots early Monday morning and looked at his surveillance video to see what was going on. From the video he provided us it appears to show a two people coming down the alley way, that’s when you see flashes of light.



Police said no one called 911. Police said Shot Spotter picked up the gunshots and they where able to locate the victim. What they found, Imer Alvarado, 34, who police say was lying in the entrance of the ally on Fourth Street, just South of Belmont.



“We do know that this victim appears to be a transgender,” said Chief Jerry Dyer, Fresno Police Department.



Dyer said Alvarado was struck multiple times in the upper body area.



“What appears to have occurred is that there was some type of disturbance that started in the alley way that disturbance between these two individuals ultimately carried out onto the street where this victim was found,” said Dyer.



Dyer said they are not calling the homicide a hate crime as of yet but Gay Central Valley said this kind of crime towards a gay or transgender is always a high risk.



“This is not the first time that our community and especially the LBGTQ has been victims right here in Fresno,” said Kaylia Metcalfe-Armstrong, Gay Central Valley.



The City’s last high profile transgender murder took place back in 2015. KC Haggard was stabbed as she approached a vehicle on Blackstone Avenue. That crime remains unsolved.



Police said Alvarado was also hearing impaired but was able to read lips. They also said the gun remains missing.



If you have any information to call the Fresno Police Department or CRIME STOPPERS AT 498-STOP.