Former Fresno State Professor Charged With Murder For 15-Year-Old High School Student’s Death 

The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office in California announced it has formally filed charges against the former Fresno State art professor who hit and killed a Hoover High School student on October 4, 2022.

15-year-old Rashad Al-Hakim Jr. gained his wings while in the hospital just a week after he was hit by 39-year-old Lisa Ellen Spoors.

Spoors was driving northbound when she hit Rashad Jr. as he was crossing First Street in a westbound direction.

Spoors left the scene of the crash and stopped approximately 20 minutes later at a Walgreens near Bullard and First Avenues.

Initially when Spoors called the police, she hung up. Then, 18 minutes later, she dialed 911 again. When police arrived, Spoors told them she thought she hit something but was not sure what it was.

Spoors was tested for DUI which indicated she had a combination of illicit and prescription substances in her system. In the early stages, police alleged that drugs and alcohol weren’t a factor in this case, according to family members.

Spoors is facing the following charges: 

one count of murder,

one count of driving under the influence of a drug causing great bodily injury, and

one count of failure to perform a duty following a collision causing death.

Spoors was convicted in Fresno County Superior Court for driving under the influence in 2008. In that case, she was advised that driving under the influence was dangerous to human life and that she could be charged with murder if she did so, and a person was killed as a result of that driving.

If convicted of the charges and allegations, Spoors faces a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.

By prior arrangements with her defense attorney, Spoors will be surrendering herself to law enforcement on or around December 27th and will likely be arraigned on the 28th.

Rashad Al-Hakim Jr. was so loveable. Most teenagers would shy away from being affectionate but you can always catch him wrapping his long skinny arms around someone reaching for a hug. Rashad always had big hugs for everybody when he first greeted you and before you parted ways. He needed his hugs! He had a magnetic energy that made everyone love to be around him.

Rashad was an incredibly bright student; he knew there were no sports without good grades. He attended Del Mar in elementary school and achieved Merit list and Honor Roll. While attending Tioga he played every sport they offered from basketball to cross country and while attending Kepler he maintained Honor Roll, Merit list and Dean’s List. Rashad attended Hoover High School this was his first year. He was a part of the Black Student Union and had dreams of attending an HBCU. He also had dreams of playing in the NBA.

He had a thing for sports, was very athletic, and was good at every sport that he tried. He played Baseball, Football, Volleyball and ran track. Basketball was his all time favorite. He won countless championships and showed great sportsmanship. Rashad made it to the top 40 EBC camp of Southern California.

Everyone flocked to him, he was charming, his charisma was unmatched, he was a great friend with a one of a kind personality and infectious smile.

Rashad loved music and loved to dance. You could always find him making Tiktok videos with his friends and siblings. He was just so fun to be around and loved to make everyone laugh. He loved playing on his PlayStation with his friends.

Rashad Jr.’s father, Rashad Al-Hakim Sr., as well as family and friends have been volunteering at Hoover High School as crossing guards to ensure the safety of as many students as they can.

The case is currently being prosecuted by the Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program.  Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.