Two men who are charged with killing a teenager and attacking a detective in National City in 2015 received a Nov. 3 trial date on April 29.
The case involves the Oct. 11, 2015 death of Juan Munoz, Jr. 18, and the attempted murder of his friend, Carlos Medrano, 17, in the 1600 block of Prospect Street in National City.
Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Garry Haehnle set the date after the attorneys appeared on video. Luis Solis Karam, 31, and Roger Francisco Hernandez, 31, also appeared on video from rooms in jail.
Currently, jury trials are suspended until June because of the state of emergency declared in the spread of the coronavirus. Most courts are closed, this case was docketed because previous court dates have passed.
Deputy District Attorney Robert Eacret said a July 16 discovery motion was also docketed.
The men are also accused of attempted murder and assault of National City Police detective Darren Pierson who testified he dodged a box cutter being swung at him by Karam as he was about to be arrested on Nov. 15, 2018.
Both men are charged with shooting at an inhabited car with both teens. Medrano, the driver, pulled over, and a man got out of a car and shot them both. Witnesses said gang challenges were yelled before the shootings.
Karam’s attorney had argued at the September 2019 preliminary hearing that swinging a boxcutter was not attempted murder. Attorney Charles Millioen said it may have been meant as a bid for “suicide by cop.” According to testimony, Karam declared “I’m not going to prison for the rest of my life” to officers and then cut his own neck three times.
Karma and Hernandez have both pleaded not guilty.
