Valley Crime Stoppers posts most wanted profile in assault case

Valley Crime Stoppers posted its Most Wanted Person of the Day profile on Jan. 7 naming Elijah Alexander Cruz, who is wanted on a felony warrant for assault with a deadly weapon. The notice, which included Cruz’s birth date of July 17, 2007, a physical description and the warrant number, asked community members to submit tips through Valley Crime Stoppers or to call the organization’s tipline.

The daily Most Wanted postings are designed to involve neighbors and businesses in locating people with active warrants. In Fresno County, where community trust and public safety intersect, that outreach is intended to expand the eyes and ears beyond patrols and court calendars. For residents, the immediate public safety concern is clear: a serious violent charge involving a young person in the community underscores the risk of harm and the need for rapid information sharing.

There are broader public health implications when alleged violent incidents enter the local news cycle. Assaults with a deadly weapon can cause physical trauma and psychological distress for victims, families and bystanders. Emergency departments and trauma services in Fresno County already face strains from rising demand for acute care and behavioral health support. Health systems, community clinics and school-based counselors play a role in both immediate response and long-term recovery for people affected by violence.

This case also highlights systemic factors that shape who shows up in Most Wanted lists. Young people, especially those from neighborhoods with fewer economic opportunities and limited access to mental health and youth services, are more likely to have repeated contact with the criminal justice system. Addressing public safety in Fresno County requires not only tip hotlines and law enforcement follow-up, but sustained investment in violence prevention, trauma-informed care and community-based alternatives that reduce recidivism and support healing.

For neighborhoods anxious about safety, the most constructive step is to share credible information with investigators rather than taking matters into your own hands. Valley Crime Stoppers’ public appeal asks for community tips and provides a tipline for that purpose. Local law enforcement and outreach organizations can use those leads while also connecting affected residents with victim services and counseling resources.

The daily Most Wanted program can help locate people with active warrants, but it also offers a moment to reflect on prevention and support. Every tip that helps resolve a case also creates an opportunity to direct resources where they can prevent the next one.

Our two cents? If you have information, pass it to Valley Crime Stoppers or local law enforcement and steer clear of confrontation. Support neighbors and local programs that offer youth mentorship, mental health care and violence prevention—those investments reduce harm and make Fresno County safer for everyone.