The internet is a weird place. Sometimes it’s a graveyard of reputations, and other times it’s just a breeding ground for straight-up lies that catch fire before anyone thinks to check a pulse. If you’ve spent five minutes on social media lately, you might have seen a headline or a grainy YouTube thumbnail claiming that Street Outlaws Shawn died. It’s the kind of news that hits fans of the 405 right in the gut. But here is the reality: Shawn Cabbell, known to the world as "Murder Nova," is very much alive.
He isn’t a ghost. He isn’t hiding. He’s usually just in his shop, covered in grease, or staring at a data log from a recent pull.
Rumors of his passing have been circulating with an annoying frequency, fueled by "rip" posts and clickbait sites that prioritize hits over human lives. It's frustrating for the fans and probably even more exhausting for the man himself. We've seen this cycle before with reality TV stars. A brief absence from filming or a quiet stretch on Instagram suddenly turns into a digital funeral.
Where did the Street Outlaws Shawn died rumors come from?
The confusion often stems from a mix of tragic reality and digital misinformation. In the world of street racing, danger is the constant passenger. We’ve seen horrific crashes on the show. We’ve seen the community lose legends like Flip (Tyler Priddy) and more recently, the devastating loss of Ryan Fellows during a filming session in Las Vegas. When a member of the Street Outlaws family actually passes away, it creates a vacuum of grief that scammers love to fill with fake news about other cast members to siphon off traffic.
Someone sees a headline about a "Street Outlaws star" dying, doesn't read the article, and starts sharing it with Shawn’s name attached. It’s a game of digital telephone.
Then there is the "Shawn Ellington" vs. "Shawn Cabbell" confusion. While the world mostly knows him by his nickname or his car, any news regarding a "Shawn" in the racing community gets blasted out. Honestly, it’s mostly just lazy reporting and predatory algorithms. People see "Murder Nova" isn't in a specific episode or hasn't posted a TikTok in three days, and the "Street Outlaws Shawn died" searches start peaking. It’s morbid, and it sucks.
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The Murder Nova is Still Screaming
If you want proof of life, you don't have to look far. Shawn and his longtime partner-in-crime, Big Chief (Justin Shearer), have navigated a lot of drama over the years, including their departure from the main show's spotlight at various points. But if you head over to the 187 Customs YouTube channel, you’ll see Shawn doing exactly what he’s always done. He’s building cars. He’s talking shop. He’s living his life.
He recently spent a significant amount of time perfecting the "OG" Murder Nova and the newer, more aerodynamic version designed to handle the insane speeds of modern "No Prep" racing. The transition from the street to the track—and the politics that come with a multi-million dollar TV franchise—is usually where the real "disappearance" happens. He didn't die; he just shifted his focus.
Why we believe the worst so quickly
There's a psychological hook here. We’ve watched these guys risk it all for years. When you see a 3,000-horsepower car twitch at 160 mph on a sketchy backroad, your brain prepares for the worst. That’s the "hook" of the show. So, when a fake news story pops up saying Street Outlaws Shawn died, our brains are already primed to believe it because we know how dangerous his job is.
The show has changed. The 405 isn't the same tight-knit group it was in the early seasons. People have moved on, started their own shops, or left Discovery Channel entirely. This fragmentation makes it harder for the average viewer to keep track of who is where. If Shawn isn't on your TV screen on Monday night, the internet fills in the blanks with the most dramatic scenario possible.
The Real Risks of the 405
Let's talk about the actual stakes. Street racing—even the "sanctioned" kind we see on TV—is brutal. We saw the crash that nearly took out Brian "Chucky" Davis and Big Chief. We saw the aftermath. The reality is that these drivers live on a razor's edge. But Shawn Cabbell has always been one of the more calculated drivers in the bunch. He’s meticulous.
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The Murder Nova isn’t just a car; it’s a masterpiece of engineering that Shawn has refined over a decade. His "death" would be a seismic shift in the automotive world, not something buried in a sketchy Facebook link. If something happened to Shawn, the entire racing community—from NHRA pros to the local small-tire guys—would be in mourning. It wouldn't be a rumor. It would be a tragedy felt across the industry.
Sorting Fact from Clickbait
How do you tell if a story about a celebrity death is real? First, look at the source. If it’s "TrendingNews24.site" or a random YouTube account with a robot voice, it’s fake. Major outlets like TMZ, Variety, or even the official Street Outlaws social media pages would be the first to verify such heavy news.
- Check the 187 Customs Socials: Shawn is active. If he’s posting a video of a turbo install, he’s fine.
- Look for Official Statements: Discovery Channel doesn't stay quiet when a lead cast member passes.
- Ignore the "Rest in Peace" Comments: Trolls love to post these on live photos just to stir the pot.
It’s also worth noting that "Shawn" is a common name. There have been other racers named Shawn in various regional circuits who have had accidents. The internet doesn't care about nuances; it just wants the clicks associated with the biggest name possible.
What Shawn is actually up to in 2026
Shawn has been heavily invested in his business, 187 Customs. He’s moved away from the heavy scripted drama of reality TV and back toward the grassroots of what made him love racing in the first place. He’s been doing more independent events, focusing on content that shows the build process, not just the race.
He’s also been spending more time with his family. That’s often why these guys "disappear" from the limelight. After years of being on the road for filming, sometimes you just want to go to your kid's ball game without a camera crew in your face.
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The "Street Outlaws Shawn died" narrative is a symptom of a larger problem: our obsession with the "death of the celebrity." We are so used to the 24-hour news cycle that silence is interpreted as a funeral. But in the world of high-performance racing, silence usually just means someone is working in the shop with their phone turned off.
The Legacy of the Murder Nova
The black-on-black Chevy Nova is an icon. It changed the way people looked at street cars. It proved that you could have a car that looked like a showpiece but ran like a bat out of hell. Shawn’s contribution to car culture is massive. He helped bridge the gap between old-school street racing and the professional-tier "No Prep" world.
If you're a fan, the best thing you can do is support his actual platforms. Watch the YouTube videos where he explains the technical side of the car. Buy the merch from his shop. Don't give the clickbait vultures the satisfaction of a "share."
How to stay updated without the drama
If you want the real story on Shawn and the rest of the 405 crew, follow the sources that actually have skin in the game. The "No Prep Kings" circuit has its own official tracking, and the racers themselves are more accessible than ever through Patreon and YouTube.
- Avoid "Breaking News" on TikTok: It's almost always fake.
- Follow Shawn Directly: His Instagram and YouTube are his primary mouthpieces.
- Verify with the Community: Forums like Yellow Bullet or specialized Facebook groups for drag racing are usually quick to debunk fakes.
The rumor that Street Outlaws Shawn died is a hoax that won't seem to stay dead, but the man himself is doing just fine. He’s still chasing lower ETs and building some of the baddest machines on the planet.
Actionable Steps for Fans
Instead of worrying about fake headlines, take these steps to stay plugged into the real racing scene.
- Subscribe to the 187 Customs YouTube channel. This is the direct line to Shawn’s shop and his current projects. You’ll see the real-time progress on his cars and get the truth straight from him.
- Use reliable news aggregators. If you're looking for racing news, use sites like Dragzine or Competition Plus. They have actual reporters on the ground at events and won't post "death" rumors without confirmation.
- Report the fakes. When you see a "RIP Shawn" post on Facebook or YouTube that you know is false, report it for misinformation. It helps clean up the algorithm for everyone else.
- Support local tracks. The best way to keep the spirit of Street Outlaws alive isn't by watching drama on TV; it's by going to your local drag strip. Shawn and the other racers often show up at these smaller venues, and that's where you get the most authentic experience.
Shawn Cabbell is a survivor in a dangerous sport and an even more dangerous industry. He’s outlived the rumors before, and he’ll likely have to do it again. The Murder Nova isn't retired, and neither is the man behind the wheel.