June 17, 2023 – Fresno Police Department officials report that shortly before 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, officers from the Southeast Policing District responded to the intersection of First Street and McKinley Avenue for a report of a traffic collision. Upon arrival, they found two vehicles, a Hyundai Elantra and a Chevrolet Colorado, that had collided within the intersection. Officers found two occupants inside the Hyundai, both of whom were injured and transported to CRMC for medical treatment. The driver survived his injuries, but the passenger did not and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The Chevrolet was found to be unoccupied. Based upon witness statements, officers determined the driver had fled the scene immediately following the accident. Officers ultimately located the driver, 33-year-old Shane Shahan, in a nearby neighborhood a short time later. Based upon the initial investigation, Shahan was taken into custody for vehicular manslaughter, felony hit and run causing death and DUI. Shahan bonded out of jail and was provided a court date.

Detectives from the department’s Collision Reconstruction Unit discovered that Shahan had a prior DUI conviction for DUI in 2017. At that time, Shahan had received and signed the murder advisement, pursuant to CVC 23593(a). This advisal is known as the Watson Advisement, which warns a DUI criminal defendant that if he or she is involved in a DUI that results in a fatality, that they will be charged with murder. A warrant for murder was issued for Shahan, who was taken into custody on June 14, 2023, at the Fresno County Courthouse.

This will be the 17^th murder of 2023 and the 4^th DUI T/C Watson murder this year. This time last year, we had 27 murders.

Source & photo: Fresno Police Department