Marione Tsegay was killed after an August gathering, and the woman charged in her death has now been ordered to face trial.
FRESNO, Calif. — More than two months after 26-year-old Marione Tsegay was fatally shot outside a central Fresno house party, the murder case against the woman accused in her death is moving toward trial following a preliminary hearing that examined the confrontation and its aftermath.
Nemadia Knuckles, 24, has been ordered to stand trial on a murder charge after a judge heard witness testimony and evidence that included video recorded by a Tesla near the scene. Knuckles has pleaded not guilty and remains in the Fresno County Jail. Her next reported court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 30.
The case began on the night of Aug. 8, when Fresno police received reports of gunfire in the area of Fruit and Shields avenues shortly before 9:30 p.m. Investigators said Tsegay had attended a house party with a number of other people and became involved in an argument with Knuckles before the shooting. Knuckles was arrested later that night and booked into jail on suspicion of murder.
Tsegay did not remain at the scene after she was wounded. Friends placed her in a vehicle and began driving her toward medical care. They encountered Fresno Fire Department personnel near Palm and Clinton avenues, where emergency responders took over. Tsegay was transported to Community Regional Medical Center and later died from her injury.
Tsegay was a 2023 Fresno State graduate with a degree in kinesiology and worked as a physical therapy aide at Fresno Heart and Surgical Hospital. Her identity was publicly released after the shooting as homicide detectives continued investigating what happened at the party and the dispute that preceded the gunfire.
Knuckles appeared in Fresno County Superior Court in September and pleaded not guilty. Court calendars later listed her as in custody while the case moved through pre-preliminary proceedings. At the preliminary hearing this week, prosecutors presented their evidence in an effort to move the case to the next stage.
The testimony showed limits in what some witnesses personally observed. Three witnesses said they heard the shot and saw Tsegay fall, but none identified Knuckles as the shooter based on the instant the gun was fired. That testimony was weighed alongside other evidence, including the Tesla recording that prosecutors said captured the shooting.
Kobi Magee, another witness at the hearing, testified about the confrontation before the gunfire. Magee said Knuckles arrived at the gathering uninvited and described her conduct as hostile. Witnesses said Tsegay approached Knuckles and asked whether she wanted to fight. Magee testified that the two stood face-to-face before Knuckles began backing away and reaching for a gun.
Prosecutors said the Tesla footage shows Knuckles draw a handgun and shoot Tsegay. They also alleged that the recording shows Knuckles point the weapon at another woman before leaving. Knuckles is charged not only with murder but also with a firearm enhancement that prosecutors say could add 25 years to life if she is convicted and the enhancement is found true.
The latest ruling means the case will continue in Fresno County Superior Court rather than ending at the preliminary stage. Knuckles remains accused of the crime and has pleaded not guilty. She is expected back in court Oct. 30 as proceedings continue in Tsegay’s death.
Author note: Last updated October 17, 2026.