The Clovis community is grappling with grief and seeking answers following the tragic death of 18-year-old Caleb Quick, who was fatally shot outside a McDonald’s at Willow and Nees Avenues on April 23, 2025. One day after the arrest of two teenagers in connection with the killing, Clovis Police Chief Curt Fleming is set to address the public in a press conference at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, offering updates on a case that has shaken the city and left a family mourning the loss of a young man with his life ahead of him.
Caleb Quick, a senior at Clovis Online School and a former student at Buchanan High School, was at the McDonald’s that evening to meet friends, unaware that he was being watched. Surveillance footage revealed a chilling sequence of events: a suspect dressed in all black, with a hoodie obscuring their face, entered the restaurant at 8:38 p.m. The individual briefly left to survey the parking lot before returning and sitting silently, staring at Quick for 13 minutes. As Quick and his friends exited, the suspect followed, and moments later, a single gunshot to the head ended Quick’s life. The calculated nature of the act, described by police as a “targeted, pre-planned murder,” has left the community reeling.
For over a week, the investigation seemed to stall, with police interviewing more than 50 witnesses but finding few leads. Chief Fleming, in a May 2 press conference, shared the surveillance footage and emphasized the deliberate nature of the crime, though he admitted the motive remained unclear. The breakthrough came when authorities identified a white 2024 Tesla Model 3 as the likely getaway vehicle. On May 6, Clovis Police executed a search warrant at a Fresno home, seizing the car from a garage. A 16-year-old girl linked to the vehicle was briefly detained but released without charges at the time, fueling speculation and frustration among residents eager for justice.
On Friday, May 9, the case took a significant turn. Clovis Police arrested two 16-year-olds, Cassie Michael and Byron Rangel, in connection with Quick’s death. Both have been formally charged, with Rangel identified as the suspected shooter and Michael as the driver of the Tesla. Authorities revealed that investigators had been closing in on the pair, coordinating their arrests to ensure a swift resolution. Michael, accompanied by her private defense attorney, surrendered voluntarily at the attorney’s office in downtown Fresno before being transported to Clovis Police Headquarters. Rangel turned himself in shortly after, around 3:30 p.m., marking a pivotal moment in the investigation.
Chief Fleming’s upcoming press conference is expected to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the arrests and the evidence that led to the charges. The community, still processing the loss of a young man described as kind and full of potential, is looking to the police for clarity and reassurance. Valley Crime Stoppers, which had raised its reward to $40,000 for information leading to an arrest, played a role in encouraging tips that helped advance the case. The organization’s efforts, combined with the police’s persistence, have brought some measure of relief to a city on edge.
As Clovis mourns Caleb Quick, the arrests offer a step toward justice, but they also raise questions about what drove two teenagers to commit such a heinous act. Chief Fleming is likely to address these concerns, along with the broader impact on public safety, in his remarks. For now, the Quick family and their supporters hold onto memories of a young man whose life was cut short, hoping that the legal process will bring accountability and closure to a tragedy that has left an indelible mark on their lives.