April 30, 2024 - Fresno Police Department officials report on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at 12:59 a.m., the Fresno Police Department received a report of a shooting victim at a residence in the 2900 block of East Pryor Drive. When officers arrived, they encountered the reporting party, who advised that her husband had shot a person in their backyard. Officers made entry and encountered 31-year-old Christian Lavin lying on a couch. Lavin was intoxicated and immediately detained. A Glock handgun, registered to Lavin, was found nearby on a kitchen countertop.

Officers found 30-year-old Roberto Roman in the backyard, near the sliding glass door.

Roman was suffering from a single gunshot wound to his upper torso area. Despite life-saving measures, Roman was pronounced deceased on scene.

Detectives reviewed home video surveillance footage that captured the incident in its entirety. The two men, who were friends, were drinking and wrestling in the backyard. At some point, the incident escalated, and Lavin retrieved his firearm. For unknown reasons, Lavin shot and mortally wounded Roman. Lavin was booked into the Fresno County Jail for murder.

This was the tenth murder of 2024.

Anyone with information on this case (Case# 2404280074) should contact Fresno Police Department Homicide Detective Mark Yee at 559-621-2407. Anyone calling with information can remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at 498-STOP (7867).

Photo of suspect is a California Drivers License photo in accordance with PC 13665


Source: Fresno Police Department