Two Arrested in Connection with Fatal Shooting, Vehicle Collision in Fresno
Above: Johnny Tapia (L) and Nicole Williams (R)
(All photos courtesy of Fresno PD)
Two people have reportedly been arrested in connection with the deaths of two people following a “disturbance” in Fresno.
Mary Lou Flores
According to a press release by the Fresno Police Department, 20-year-old Johnny Tapia and his partner, 25-year-old Nicole Williams, are facing multiple charges following the fatal shooting of a 24-year-old man and the vehicle collision death of Mary Lou Flores, 66.
On the night of Monday, July 31, officers from the Department’s Northwest Policing District responded to the Walmart Supercenter on West Shaw Avenue to investigate a report of a shooting. Police also received a separate report regarding a collision between two vehicles, a sedan and a Rav4 SUV, on North Brawley Avenue. The two reports turned out to be connected to the same incident.
Police allege that Flores and the shooting victim knew each other and had gotten into some sort of disturbance that also involved Tapia and Williams. The shooting victim and Flores ended up leaving in separate vehicles, but Tapia and Williams allegedly chased them down in the Rav4, with Tapia allegedly firing multiple shots at the shooting victim’s car and striking him once in the upper body.
Tapia and Williams then allegedly continued to chase Flores’ vehicle, causing her to collide with a guard rail and then the Rav4. At that point, Tapia and Williams fled the scene on foot. Flores did not survive the injuries she sustained in the collision.
Tapia was soon identified as the driver of the Rav4, with Williams as his passenger.
On Monday, August 7, Tapia was charged with murder, several counts of attempted murder, and assault with a deadly weapon. Williams faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon and accessory. By the time these charges were handed down, both were reportedly already in custody on an unrelated robbery charge.
Although the suspects have been identified, the investigation into the incident and circumstances surrounding it continues, police said.
