A Fresno State student was charged with murder and driving under the influence when they hit and killed a high school student crossing the street in October.
The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office identified graduate student Lisa Ellen Spoors, who goes by they/them pronouns, as the driver and charged them with the murder of Rashad Al-Hakim Jr., a Hoover High School student. It was announced this afternoon on the district attorney’s office’s Facebook account.
Spoors is charged with one count of murder, driving under the influence of a drug and failure to perform a duty following a collision causing a death, according to the post.
“Results from the Spoors’ toxicology report at the time of the incident indicate that [they] had a combination of illicit and prescription substances in [their] system,”the post said.
Spoors was a graduate teaching assistant in Fresno State’s Department of Art, Design and Art History before they were placed on investigatory leave. According to a Fresno State spokesperson, their employment contract ends tomorrow.
A potential on-campus protest for Al-Hakim Jr., calling for Spoors’ arrest, led to the closure of the Conley Art Building.
Spoors was previously convicted for driving under the influence in Fresno County Superior Court in 2008, according to the post.
“In that case, [they were] advised that driving under the influence was dangerous to human life and that [they] could be charged with murder if [they] did so,” the post said.
Spoors faces 15 years to life in prison. The case is being prosecuted by the Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program.
According to the district attorney’s office, Spoors was driving northbound when they struck Al-Hakim Jr. while he was crossing First Street in a westbound direction on Oct. 4. Spoors then left the scene of the crash and returned to the area around 20 minutes later.
Al-Hakim Jr. died at an area hospital due to the injuries he sustained in the crash on Oct. 10
His mother, Ragina Bell, first broke the news, releasing the driver’s name in a Fresno City Council meeting. She has been advocating for Spoors’ arrest and justice for her son since October.
In her personal Facebook account, Bell responded to the arrest with a message to her son.
“I made a promise to you that I will make sure you get justice, and I don’t break promises that I make to my kids,” the post said.
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer issued a statement to the Fresno Bee after the charges were announced, saying he wants to organize a school pedestrian safety meeting.
“I cannot imagine the amount of pain Rashad’s family has experienced as a result of this tragic loss of life,” Dyer said. “I am convening a school pedestrian safety meeting in early January and remain committed to working with superintendents, members of the police department and public works to strengthen and develop traffic safety strategies that will minimize risk to children as they walk or bike to and from school.”