Two men were ordered Sept. 11 to stand trial for murder and attempted murder in the 2015 shooting of two teen-agers in National City.
Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Roderick Shelton heard 2 1/2 days of testimony concerning the Oct. 11, 2015, murder of Juan Munoz, Jr., 18, and the wounding of his friend, Carlos Medrano, 17, in the 1600 block of Prospect Street in National City.
At the end of the preliminary hearing, Shelton also ordered Luis Solis Karam, 30, to stand trial for attempted murder and assault of National City Police detective Darren Pierson who testified he dodged a boxcutter being swung at him by Karam as he was about to be arrested on Nov. 15, 2018.
“A boxcutter can be a deadly weapon,” said Shelton.
Also ordered to trial was Roger Francisco Hernandez, 31, on murder and attempted murder charges. Both were ordered to trial for shooting at an inhabited car and for acting for the benefit of a criminal street gang.
“We can all agree it was a senseless, senseless killing,” said Shelton, who added there was “more than sufficient evidence” that Karam and Hernandez were acting to benefit a gang.
Approximately 20 members of Munoz’s family and friends attended the hearing all three days. Some family members of Karam and Hernandez also attended. Munoz lived with his parents in San Diego and Medrano lived in National City.
“They’re being held accountable for their actions,” said Elizabeth Munoz, the victim’s mother, afterwards. “I’m very happy with the (hearing) outcome.”
Both men will return to court on Sept. 24 to set a trial date. They have pleaded not guilty.
Deputy District Attorney Robert Eacret said a grey or silver Nissan Altima was seen behind
Munoz and he pulled over. A passenger got out of the Nissan and shot repeatedly at both teens.
Eacret said a silver Nissan Altima was registered to Karam at the time. The car later had a collision and was taken to a junkyard.
There wasn’t really a motive for the shooting “other than gang disrespect,” said Eacret. Medrano said he heard the passenger yell “do you bang?” which is a typical gang challenge, he said. Munoz and Medrano were not associated with a gang.
Eacret said Hernandez later told police he thought both teens “were looking tough” and staring at him before the shooting.
“He gave sufficient details that make it clear that he and Mr. Karam (were involved),” said Eacret.
Julian Villagomez, a District Attorney investigator, testified Hernandez was placed in a holding cell with two other people along with a recording device after he was arrested in November 2018. Villagomez said Hernandez spoke of the shooting, saying “I got him good. He’s a stiff.”
Hernandez said the second person was not killed but wounded, said Villagomez. Hernandez said a .45 caliber firearm was used and it was “torn apart” and discarded afterwards, said Villagomez. Hernandez told the people in jail he afterwards went home and kissed his baby.
Attorney Brianne Murphy, who represented Hernandez, urged the judge to not to order a trial. She said another person with access to the Nissan could have done the shooting.
Kara’s attorney, Charles Millioen, said he didn’t feel the swinging boxcutter by Karan was attempted murder. “Maybe it was suicide by cop,” he said.
Millioen noted that police arrested Karam after following his girlfriend who picked him up after he left work at a South Bay construction site.
“It’s very telling they didn’t get (an arrest) warrant,” said Millioen. “It raises a question, would they have even gotten a warrant.”
According to testimony, National City Police put a GPS tracker on Karam’s car with a magnet so they could locate him in 2018.
Both Karam and Hernandez remain in jail on $5 million and $3 million respectively.
