Trial Ordered for 4 in Santee Slaying
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Four young men were ordered Wednesday to stand trial for murder and attempted murder in the drive-by shootings of four people at a party last month.
At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing, San Diego Municipal Judge Ann Winebrenner ordered the men to appear May 8 in Superior Court.
The charges stem from the March 2 fatal shooting of Asia Dunlap, 20, and the wounding of three guests at a party held in a residence in the 8400 block of Rumson Drive in Santee. The wounded men were James Buska, 20; Rocky Whitfield, 18, and Caesar Franco, 19, all of Santee. All three testified during the preliminary hearing.
The defendants are Christopher Mendez of Santee, who turns 21 today; Jose Crespo, 18; Jonathan McGee, 18, and Ron Israel, 18, all of San Diego.
Defense attorneys unsuccessfully urged the judge to dismiss the premeditated attempted murder charges, saying there was no evidence that the shootings were planned.
All four defendants remain in County Jail. Bail for Crespo is $1 million. McGee’s bail amount is $600,000, and Mendez and Israel’s bail is $500,000.
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