A man remains behind bars on $2 million bail in the shooting death of an acquaintance in a car in the Otay Mesa West area.
Hector Gabriel Sanchez, 22, has pleaded not guilty to murder in the death of Tadesse Mekrai, 21, who died in a hospital after being shot in the torso on March 19.
Sanchez is also charged with two counts of kidnapping, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and attempted robbery. A 16-year-old girl was found uninjured in the trunk of a car where Mekrai and Sanchez were both found wounded.
San Diego Police officers responded to a 911 call on 10:56 p.m. at Palm Avenue and Twining Avenue. Sanchez was found wounded in the leg and both he and Mekrai were taken to a hospital. Mekrai was found unresponsive at the scene and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Detectives determined the shooting occurred in the area of Drucker Lane and Siempre Viva Road in Otay Mesa. Sanchez was charged five days later
Sanchez pleaded not guilty to all charges in May after he was released from a hospital. A Chula Vista Superior Court judge set a June 12 preliminary hearing.
During the investigation, a drunk driver struck a San Diego police officer outside his patrol car. The police SUV was parked at Palm Avenue and Kedzie Avenue to stop motorists from driving into a crime scene.
A driver was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, but his name was not released.
Sanchez remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility.
