A verbal dispute in a Fresno parking lot escalated to gunfire on a Thursday night in September, ending the life of 25-year-old Muhammad Muhtaraam-Conley. A male resident of Fresno, he was known to local law enforcement and had been arrested 11 days before his death in the nearby city of Clovis for a probation violation and on weapons-related charges.
The fatal encounter occurred on September 24, 2026, at approximately 10:30 p.m.
in the parking lot of Bulldog Liquor, located near the busy intersection of Shaw Avenue and Fresno Street in northeast Fresno. The area is a well-trafficked commercial strip, surrounded by other businesses and gas stations. According to the Fresno Police Department, a verbal argument or fight broke out in the parking lot just before the shooting. The police were first alerted to the violence not by a 911 call, but by a notification from the city's ShotSpotter gunshot detection system, which registered the sound of a bullet being fired.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Muhammad Muhtaraam-Conley on the ground in the parking lot, suffering from a single gunshot wound to his upper body. Emergency medical personnel provided immediate aid and transported him to Community Regional Medical Center for treatment. Despite their efforts, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Homicide detectives with the Fresno Police Department immediately launched an investigation into what was now the city's latest killing. They cordoned off the area in front of the liquor store and began canvassing for witnesses and evidence. Investigators worked to piece together the sequence of events leading up to the shooting by obtaining and reviewing surveillance video from the liquor store and surrounding businesses. Detectives determined that a verbal altercation preceded the gunfire and focused on identifying the individuals involved.
Within a few days, police identified two suspects in connection with Muhammad's death: 20-year-old Sakilian Drum and 26-year-old Malik Upshaw. On Sunday, September 27, three days after the shooting, Sakilian Drum surrendered to authorities at the Fresno County Jail. He was arrested and booked on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon as part of the murder investigation.
The second suspect, Malik Upshaw, remained at large and was wanted on a more serious charge of murder. The Fresno Police Department publicly identified him and released his photograph, asking for the community's help in locating him.
The shooting brought a sense of unease to the neighborhood. One nearby business owner expressed concern about the violence, noting that it was the first time they had heard of a shooting in what they considered a normally safe area. Mario Rodriguez, a local man who said he regularly visited a CVS across the street from the scene, told a reporter that while the violence was unsettling, it served as a stark reminder for residents to always be aware of their surroundings. "This shouldn't be happening but it happens," he said.
As of late September 2026, the investigation was ongoing. One suspect was in custody while the other remained a fugitive. The Fresno Police Department urged anyone with information about the case or the whereabouts of Malik Upshaw to come forward. Tips can be directed to Homicide Detective N. Morales at 559-621-2449 or Detective J. Espinoza at 559-621-2415. For those wishing to remain anonymous, tips can be submitted to Valley Crime Stoppers at 559-498-STOP.
