Man shot to death by friend in Fresno identified. They had been drinking and wrestling

A man that was shot and killed Sunday morning has been identified by the Fresno Police Department.

In an update Monday, police said that 30-year-old Roberto Roman was shot and killed by his friend, 31-year-old Christian Lavin, in the backyard of a Fresno home.

Officers responded to the home in the 2900 block of East Pryor Driver at 12:59 a.m. and were told by the suspect’s wife that Lavin shot Roman in the backyard.

Officers located Lavin on a couch intoxicated. He was detained.

A Glock handgun, registered to Lavin, was found nearby on a kitchen countertop, police said.

Officers found Roman in the backyard, near a sliding glass door with a single gunshot wound to his upper torso area. He was pronounced deceased on scene.

Detectives said based on surveillance video, the two men were drinking and wrestling in the backyard. At some point, the incident escalated and Lavin retrieved his gun.

For unknown reasons, Lavin shot Roman, police said.

Lavin was booked into the Fresno County jail on suspicion of murder.

Police said this was the 10th intentional homicide of 2024 in Fresno.