May 13, 2025 — Two 16-year-olds accused in the fatal shooting of Caleb Quick outside a Clovis McDonald’s have officially been charged with murder, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.
Prosecutors say they are moving to transfer the case from juvenile to adult court, a legal maneuver that, if successful, could result in far steeper penalties for the teenage suspects—a boy and a girl—who were arrested last Friday. Law enforcement worked closely with attorneys hired by the suspects’ parents to coordinate their arrests.
The male suspect faces charges of murder by lying in wait and the personal and intentional discharge of a firearm causing death. The female suspect has been charged with one count of being a co-participant armed with a firearm.
If convicted in adult court, the male suspect could face life in prison without the possibility of parole. The female suspect could face a sentence ranging from 26 years to life. However, if the case remains in juvenile court, the maximum penalties would be significantly lower—seven years, or confinement until the age of 25.
Caleb Quick was shot and killed on April 23 in what police say was a planned attack. His death sent shockwaves through the Clovis community, prompting calls for justice and raising questions about youth violence.
Because of their ages, California law prohibits the release of the teens’ identities unless a judge approves the case transfer to adult court. Recent changes to state law, including Proposition 57 and Senate Bill 1391, have made it more difficult to try minors as adults. Minors aged 16 or 17 are no longer automatically transferred.
Attorney Mark King, speaking to local media after the arrests, clarified that neither defendant would be eligible for the death penalty due to their age, regardless of how the case proceeds.
The DA’s Office emphasized the seriousness of the charges and the continuing evaluation of the case as the judicial process unfolds. A transfer hearing has not yet been scheduled.
As the community mourns Caleb Quick, whose life was cut short in a moment of violence, legal proceedings are just beginning for the two teens now facing some of the most serious charges possible under California law.