On April 16, 2023, 41-year-old Adavier Ni'Yeon Thomas was fatally shot in the parking lot of Zack's Market, located at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and California Avenue in southwest Fresno, California. The incident occurred around 5:20 p.m., when nearby Fresno Police Department officers heard multiple gunshots. Upon arrival, they found Thomas suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to Community Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Witnesses reported seeing a white Nissan Altima fleeing the scene immediately after the shooting. Officers pursued the vehicle and observed the occupants discarding two firearms during the chase. The pursuit ended near the intersection of Church and Walnut Avenues, where the suspects were apprehended without further incident. The driver was identified as 39-year-old Faheem Muhammad, and the passenger as 33-year-old Malcolm McCoy, both residents of Fresno.
Investigations revealed that prior to the shooting, McCoy and Muhammad had allegedly assaulted two other individuals nearby with a firearm. Surveillance footage from Zack's Market showed McCoy exiting the vehicle and firing at an unidentified male before turning the gun on Thomas, shooting him multiple times. Both suspects then fled the scene in the Nissan Altima.
The Fresno County District Attorney's Office charged McCoy and Muhammad with multiple offenses, including murder, attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and gang-related enhancements. Both have prior felony convictions and are known gang members. If convicted of all charges and allegations, they face life without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. As of November 2023, court proceedings have been delayed, with the preliminary hearing rescheduled for February 20, 2024.
Thomas's death marked the sixth homicide in Fresno for the year 2023, contributing to a 60% decrease in murders compared to the previous year. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death remains ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
