The getaway driver in the slaying of a young man in National City pleaded guilty April 12 to manslaughter. The prosecutor also announced the arrest of the gunman.
Onan Loaiza, 26, was shot around 10:30 a.m. on March 27, 2018, in the 800 block of Eta Street near Highland Avenue in National City. He was found lying on a grassy strip besides trees outside the Park Villas apartments.
Robert Garduno, 28, was arrested about a week later. Garduno pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter Friday before Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Francis Devaney, who then dismissed a murder charge.
“He was the driver, not the shooter,” said Deputy District Attorney John Dunlap of Garduno.
Dunlap said the alleged gunman is Marcos Vasquez, 28, who was arrested March 24 by National City Police and has been charged with murder. Vasquez has pleaded not guilty and a preliminary hearing has been set for July 18.
There are allegations the shooting was a gang related incident. Garduno also pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit great bodily injury for an earlier incident.
Dunlap said there was no agreement regarding sentencing yet, but Garduno faces up to 13 years in state prison. Sentencing was set for Oct. 24.
Loaiza was slain somewhat near a restaurant where a fight broke out earlier and near a 7-Eleven store. About 10 days later another homicide occurred in the same area which so far has gone unsolved.
Both Garduno and Vasquez remain in jail without bail.
