A California man was shot dead at his own 22nd birthday party in the early hours of Sunday morning after five gang members gatecrashed then opened fire.
Fresno Police Chief, Jerry Dyer, said the 'bulldog gang members… went inside and began barking' so victim Nicholas Polin asked them to leave.
The boys - all believed to be juveniles - did make an exit but returned 10 minutes later and one pulled out a handgun, which was fired into the ceiling.
In the 2.30am incident, Polin heroically tried to wrestle the suspect amid the chaos at the gathering of about 60 people on East Pico Ave.
Nicholas Polin, 22, was shot dead at his own birthday party on Sunday in Fresno, California
Five 'bulldog gang members' showed up at a house no Pico Avenue but were asked to leave. They left and returned 10 minutes later when a juvenile fired a gun at the ceiling
Polin bravely tackled the suspect who then fired rounds into him. Partygoers tackled the gunman and beat him up, leaving him with head injuries
However, the gunman was able to pull away and responded by firing rounds into Polin.
Several other partygoers tackled the assailant and 'physically assaulted him repeatedly' but he was able to flee.
An individual who law enforcement believes is responsible was detained shortly afterwards however and it was the head trauma that helped them make the link.
At 3.45am a call was made about a 16-year-old Hispanic male who had arrived at Saint Agnes Medical Center with significant head wounds.
'We believe it was this 16-year-old who was at the party, shot Nicholas Polin and he was struck multiple times on the head requiring him to have medical treatment,' Chief Dyer said at a press conference on Sunday.
The chief said the male suspect was possibly struck with an object or bottle to receive such injuries.
The suspect was able to break free and flee the scene of the 2.30am incident
But cops believe they captured the gunman - a 16-year-old boy - at Saint Agnes hospital shortly afterwards when he walked in with head trauma and a call was made to the deparment
'We believe it was this 16-year-old who was at the party, shot Nicholas Polin and he was struck multiple times
