March 7, 2026 – Fresno Police Department officials report that on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at approximately 1:59 p.m., Central Policing District officers responded to an apartment complex near First Street and Dayton Avenue to conduct a welfare check on 72-year-old Leon Conway. Neighbors reported that they had not seen or heard from Conway for several days. Officers forced entry into the apartment and discovered Conway deceased inside. An autopsy later revealed that Conway had sustained blunt force trauma to his body, and his death was determined to be a homicide.
Detectives learned that Conway lived alone, though he frequently allowed various individuals to come and go from his residence. During their investigation, Homicide detectives positively identified 53-year-old, Lemual Wheatley as the suspect responsible for the homicide of victim Leon Conway. Detectives determined that Conway and Wheatley were acquaintances and were involved in a dispute on or around January 31, 2026. The dispute escalated, resulting in Wheatley physically assaulting Conway, causing blunt force trauma, and Conway’s eventual death.
On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, Fresno Police Department’s Street Violence Bureau – Tactical Team members located Wheatley in the area of Bardell Avenue and Kaviland Avenue and took him into custody on an unrelated felony warrant. On Thursday, March 5, 2026, homicide detectives also charged Wheatley with Murder. Although an arrest has been made, detectives are continuing their investigation and are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact the Fresno Police Department…