A Fresno man has been sentenced to life in prison for the attempted murder of an employee at Lithia Ford, a car dealership located near Blackstone and Bullard avenues. On Monday, Fresno County Superior Court Judge Brian Alvarez sentenced 39-year-old Manuel Bracker to three years plus 14 years to life in state prison.
Bracker pleaded guilty on August 15 to all counts and enhancements, admitting a prior strike conviction. He later entered a not guilty plea by reason of insanity, but after a court trial on August 22, he was found legally sane.
The incident took place on October 26, 2022. Bracker stole a knife from a nearby Target store before entering the dealership. Once inside a conference room, he stabbed an employee twice in the back. Other employees chased him out of the building and law enforcement detained him soon after. The victim survived after receiving emergency surgery.
Bracker has a previous conviction from 2020 for stabbing another person in the neck at a local grocery store.
