A San Diego man pleaded guilty Dec. 7 to voluntary manslaughter in the slaying of a friend in a motel room on Outer Road in the Palm City area. In a plea agreement, Luis Alexis Avila, 23, has agreed to accept a six-year term in state prison for the May 28 shooting death of Juan Miguel Diaz, 22, said Deputy District Attorney Derek Grilz.
A murder charge was dismissed by Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Garry Haehnle, who set sentencing for Jan. 24. Avila remains in jail without bail.
The prosecutor said the maximum sentence is 21 years in prison. After the 6-year sentence is finished Avila would be paroled, but could be sent back to prison if he violates parole conditions.
Grilz said Avila, Diaz, and others were in the motel room when Avila and Diaz had a disagreement. Avila pulled a gun and shot Diaz several times in his upper body. Diaz was rushed to a hospital where he died at 1 a.m., about four hours after the shooting.
San Diego Police officers responded to the shooting scene following a 911 call on May 27 at 8:55 p.m. at the EZ-8 Motel at 1010 Outer Road.
