Man sentenced for deadly crash during police chase in central Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A man has learned how long he will spend behind bars for a deadly crash following a police chase in Fresno.

On April 23, 2020, Roger Harris sped off from police and crashed head-on into a truck, killing 48-year-old Guy Shearer.

"My heart was ripped from my chest that day, and I know that I will never be the same, and I know my children will never be the same," said the victim's wife, Elena Shearer, in court.

Harris hung his head for most of the hearing after agreeing to a plea deal that could keep him in prison for the rest of his life.

Elena says her family still feels the pain of her husband's loss every day.

"The kids need Guy now more than ever. I need Guy now more than ever. Guy's parents need him more now than ever," said Elena.

Guy's son, Jacob, mourns the experiences they'll never share again.

"There will never be another happy birthday. No Merry Christmases. No Happy Father's Day spoken between me and my father again," Jacob expressed.

"I will never see him get to hold his grandchildren. I'll never get to ask my dad for help. I lost my hero."

Fresno police officers said they pulled Harris over for rolling through a stop sign.

During the stop, they saw a handgun.

When Harris realized they saw the gun, which he was not legally allowed to own because of past felony convictions, that's when they say he sped off and crashed.

After the crash, he ran from his car.

Harris' plea agreement dropped several gun charges, but he did plead guilty to DUI, vehicular manslaughter, and other charges.

Harris offered Shearer's family an apology.

"I'm so sorry to Jacob and to Mr. Shearer's wife and to Jacob's brother. I watched your interview on the news. Jacob, I'm sorry," Harris said.

Harris' defense attorney, Yan Shrayberman, argued that even if he is eventually released, he's unlikely to commit another violent crime because he's losing his sight.

"I doubt that even if he is released from prison, he will ever be able to regain his eyesight," said Shrayberman.

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