One of two men charged in a fatal South Bay motel shooting has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while the other one is set for trial Dec. 6.
Maurice Leon Hayes, 22, pleaded guilty to manslaughter while armed in the death of Raymond Lipscomb, 27, that occurred April 12, 2016, at 1:20 a.m. at the E-Z 8 Motel in the 1000 block of Outer Road in the Palm City area. A murder charge was dismissed.
Deputy District Attorney Matthew Greco said Hayes faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison. Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sontag set sentencing for Feb. 7, 2018.
Rodney Eric Martin, 30, faces a murder trial Dec. 6. Martin is also charged with personally using a handgun in the homicide. He has pleaded not guilty. Martin has a prior conviction of felon in possession of a firearm.
Lipscomb suffered a gunshot wound to his upper torso. Life saving measures were started by San Diego Police officers before paramedics arrived and he was transported to a hospital. Lipscomb died shortly after arriving at the hospital by ambulance.
Police arrested Martin on June 29, 2016. Hayes was arrested on July 5, 2016 by sheriff’s deputies at a courthouse. One man initially arrested was not charged.
Both Hayes and Martin were ordered to stand trial for murder after a 3-day preliminary hearing in March. Hayes is housed at the South Bay Detention Facility while Martin remains behind bars at the Vista Detention Facility. Both are held without bail.
