On November 7, 2023, at approximately 7:20 a.m., Fresno police and fire personnel responded to reports of an unresponsive individual lying face down in a parking lot on the 4200 block of East Fountain Way, near Cedar and Shields Avenues in Fresno, California. Upon arrival, they discovered 28-year-old Daniel Saul Payan, a member of the unhoused community, suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Emergency medical services transported Payan to Community Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
Investigators determined that Payan had been involved in a disturbance with an unknown individual in the parking lot prior to the shooting. Through the review of surveillance footage and witness interviews, detectives identified 31-year-old J’Tericka Hall as the primary suspect in Payan's death. On November 10, 2023, officers executed a search warrant at Hall's residence, leading to her arrest. She was subsequently charged with murder and booked into the Fresno County Jail.
The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation. Authorities have not disclosed any prior relationship between Hall and Payan or the circumstances leading up to their fatal encounter. Detectives continue to seek additional information and have urged anyone with knowledge of the incident to contact the Fresno Police Department at (559) 621-7000 or to provide anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP.
In the wake of Payan's death, community members have expressed concerns over the safety and well-being of the unhoused population in Fresno. Advocates emphasize the need for increased support and resources to protect vulnerable individuals from violence and to address the underlying issues contributing to homelessness.
As the legal proceedings against Hall progress, Payan's family and friends seek justice for his untimely death, hoping for a thorough investigation that brings clarity and accountability to the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.
