Shane

History

Before the zombie outbreak, Shane served as a police officer in Cynthianna, Kentucky. As Rick Grimes's partner they soon become very good friends. After being called out to apprehend a convict, they were caught in a shootout with the criminal. Rick attempts to run to a ditch whilst Shane gave him covering fire. Unfortunately the convict shoots Shane's gun from his hand and then shoots Rick on the right side of his chest. Thankfully the shot is not fatal, but renders Rick in a coma.

Feeling guilty for what had happened, he does what he can to help Lori and Carl. About this time, the zombie outbreak was picking up pace. Concerned for her son's safety, Lori decides to take Carl to her parent's in Atlanta, and Shane decides to escort them. On the way to Atlanta, they are caught just outside of the city. Racked with guilt for leaving Rick behind, Lori confides in Shane, allowing herself to be caught up with emotion and be comforted by Shane. The support Shane gives her is the first she receives since Rick's falling into a coma and the zombie outbreak. Eventually she has an affair with Shane, albeit left with regret for having let herself go ahead with it.

With the outbreak worse within the bigger cities like Atlanta, Shane is forced to find safety on the outskirts of the city along with Lori, Carl and a group of other survivors. During this time Shane fell in love with Lori, it is possible though that he may have had a long fixation on her even before the outbreak. Its also possible that they may have continued their affair, but its never been really said mostly hinted by Dale. As a police officer, he is soon regarded as one of the camp's leaders keeping a vigilant eye for the sake of the other survivors.

When Rick returned and found his family at the camp, Shane tried to resume his role as Rick's friend. As time went by, he became more and more jealous until he and Rick had a confrontation while hunting with Carl. At that time, Carl shot and killed Shane. Lori showed mostly anger and hatred for Shane during his burial, and spit on his grave when the others left her sight. She was later revealed to be pregnant with Judith, though it's not sure if Shane was the father.

Later on in the series, when the survivors are settling into the prison, Rick discovers that it does not require a Zombie bite to transform the living into the undead. The next day Rick, sets off back to Atlanta to finish off Shane. Once he arrives he digs up Shane's remains only to see him turned into a Zombie. Rick then proceeds to say his goodbyes and shoots him in the head, finally letting Shane rest in peace.

The walking dead (TV series)

Jon Bernthal as Shane

In the TV show, Shane is played by Jon Bernthal. The story of the TV show diverges from the story in the comic. One of the differences is that in the show Shane visits Rick in the hospital while the outbreak was going on and mistakes Rick for dead. Another difference is that Shane hasn't died in the camp outside the city. Instead of the hunting trip that resulted in Shane's death in the comic, in a fit of jealousy Shane aimed his gun at Rick without Rick knowing, only to be stopped by Dale coming in. The final change is when the group stays at the CDC center. Shane tries getting back together with Lori and even forces himself on her but gets pushed away and scratched in the face. When they escaped the CDC center, Shane survived. Shane ends up finally meeting his end in season 2 when he releases Randell and lies to him telling him to lead Shane to his group. After killing him, he runs back to the group and claims that Randell overpowered him and took his gun. Along with Rick, Daryl and Glenn they leave to go look for the runaway. Shane manages to get Rick alone outside the farm and attempts to kill him only to stabbed in the heart by Rick. Carl comes along to see his father standing over the body of Shane, as Rick walks towards his son Carl raises a gun and Rick believes that he saw him kill Shane. Just then Shane gets up behind Rick as a walker and Carl proceeds to shoot him, thus ending Shane's role in the tv show.