Driver faces attempted murder charges

A judge on June 15 ordered Enrique Ayon to stand trial on 10 charges that include four freeway shootings that started on Interstate 805 in National City on Oct. 3, 2011.

Ayon, 25, of Lancaster, is accused of attempted murder of Marcus Eagles, 37, who identified Ayon as the man who shot his black Volvo while driving on I-805 south of Plaza Boulevard.

Eagles, of Paradise Hills, was not hurt, but the second victim wasn’t so lucky.

Demetrious Miller, 26, was shot in the thigh while driving north on I-805 near Mesa College Drive minutes later. Ayon is also charged with attempted murder in Miller’s shooting.

The third shooting was heard by two California Highway Patrol officers on I-805, but there was no injury or damages.

Two bullets struck an ambulance on Interstate 5, but no one was hurt in the fourth shooting.

There is no motive and the firearm was never recovered. Ayon was arrested the next day by CHP officers after someone recognized his car description and license plate that was posted on freeway signs.

After a day and a half of testimony in the preliminary hearing, San Diego Superior Court Judge Kerry Wells said there was “strong evidence they were committed by the same person.”

She said the prosecution proved the same gun was used in all the shootings through physical evidence and a casing that was found in Ayon’s car.

Deputy District Attorney Christopher Moon said a bullet was lodged just inches from where Eagles was seated. Wells said Eagles testified he was 85 percent sure that Ayon was the gunman and identified the car.

Ayon’s attorney, Zaki Zehawi, downplayed Eagles’ testimony, saying his identification of Ayon in a line-up was only “split seconds” on seeing the other driver at the time.

Zehawi unsuccessfully urged Wells to dismiss the attempted murder counts, saying the shootings were “reckless behavior, but no attempt to kill.” He said the evidence was only circumstantial.

CHP officer Ken Jackman testified there was evidence of gun residue on Ayon’s hands and vehicle and he was the registered owner of a firearm.

The first reported damage started when Ayon allegedly drove his white Chevrolet Malibu through the gate arm at a San Ysidro parking lot without paying for parking that morning.

Enrique Carmona, the manager at the border parking lot, testified there was $35 in damages to the broken device. Carmona said he gave surveillance camera footage to the CHP.

Ayon was also ordered to stand trial for two counts of felony battery of two sheriff’s deputies in the jail from incidents on Feb. 13 and March 6.

He was also held to answer on three counts of shooting at an inhabited vehicle, discharging firearm in a grossly negligent manner, hit and run, and vandalism. Ayon has pleaded not guilty. He remains in jail on $2 million bail.