Vigil held for Fresno hit-and-run victim, deceased homeless. ‘I’ll never forget her’
Dozens of Fresno community members held a candlelight vigil to celebrate the life of Monica ‘Mo’ Contreraz—the woman who was killed in a fatal hit-and-run—as well as the lives of other unhoused individuals that have died on the streets of Fresno.
“It’s just horrific what happened to her,” said Kate, a resident who used to see Contreraz and her dog near the Jack in the Box on Herndon and Milburn. “It’s just very sad to lose somebody, no matter who they are, because we’re all human.”
Contreraz, a 29-year-old woman who was unhoused, was pushing a shopping cart and walking her dog, Lucky, around 1 a.m. on May 13 when she was fatally struck near Herndon and Milburn avenues in northwest Fresno and then dragged for eight miles by a truck.
Madera County sheriff’s office located and arrested 38-year-old Shawn Ginder of Fresno on May 14, who is believed to be responsible for Contreraz’s death. As of Thursday, Ginder, who jumped out of a three-story house during the arrest, remains in critical condition and on life support, according to Fresno police department spokesperson, Bill Dooley.
Around 70 individuals attended Wednesday’s vigil at the same intersection, hosted by We Are Not Invisible, a nonprofit organization dedicated to homeless advocacy.
A number of people took the chance to share prayers, songs, and memories in honor of the deceased. Family and friends mourned the loss of their loved ones and said they hope people make more effort to show compassion towards the unhoused.
“When we think about people on the streets, it’s not just anybody — that somebody’s baby, that’s someone’s sister, that’s someone’s brother, that’s someone’s daughter, that’s someone’s friend,” Janay Conley, Contreraz’s sister-in-law, said during Wednesday’s vigil. “We can all fall on hard times. It can happen to anyone.”
‘I’ll never forget her.’
Contreraz will be remembered as a person that was kind and generous, friends and family said during Wednesday’s vigil.
A woman named Taylor recalled meeting Contreraz at a group home they both lived in years ago. Taylor, who did not share her last name, said Contreraz helped her turn her life around and that she’s “devastated” she wasn’t able to help Contreraz do the same.
“I want to thank you, Monique, because if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here right now. You helped me through our years of being homeless,” Taylor said.
Vanessa, a social worker who did not share her last name, said she first met Contreraz when she was working in a group home. Vanessa described how Contreraz was “special,” “kind,” and “patient” despite her difficult upbringing. After Contreraz’s mom was also struck and killed by a car, Vanessa said, Contreraz was “in and out of foster care” before she ended up living on the streets.
“You never knew the pain and the trauma that she endured. Because ... her smile,” she said. “She definitely inspired my journey as a social worker today — I’ll never forget her.”
Contreraz’s family and friends fought back tears as they shared how Contreraz’s death has been “devastating” to the family and said they wanted to see justice for her death.
Vigil attendees remembered other loved ones that have recently died, such as Jarrin Newsom. Family members confirmed his death on May 18 and said Newsom’s body was found by a Madera County resident in the San Joaquin River and is currently undergoing an autopsy. The Fresno County Coroner’s Office said they did not have someone with this name, while the Madera County coroner’s office could not be immediately reached to confirm.
“Just a couple of weeks ago, we were throwing the football around,” said his brother, Patriance Peters. “He was a loving, caring guy. He would do anything for you.”
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Calls for increased counseling, pedestrian protections
Speakers at Wednesday’s vigil said they want to see more compassion and support towards the unhoused from the community and city leaders.
Some called for more counseling and mental health therapy support for the homeless and more visibility of the available resources.
Others, such as Tony Molina of the Fresno County Bicycle Coalition, said deaths like that of Contreraz serve as a reminder that the city needs more pedestrian-friendly walkways and infrastructure innovations to slow down traffic on busy streets like Herndon.
Vigil organizers said they hope the public will remember the lives of the homeless “street family members” that have died recently in Fresno.
“They were just down on their luck. They had a few bad decisions, but that didn’t take away who they were,” said Dez Martinez, founder of WANI. “They’re amazing individuals, and they’ll be surely missed.”
This story was originally published May 26, 2022 at 11:31 AM.
