Five suspected gang members from Antioch have been charged -- and a sixth is expected to be charged -- in the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old Oakley boy at a birthday party in Antioch this summer, police said Wednesday.
The slain teen, Martin Navarro, was killed at the behest of his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend, Carlos Guzman -- the only charged defendant who has not been apprehended by police, according to Antioch police acting Lt. Diane Aguinaga.
The Contra Costa District Attorney's Office on Friday filed murder, conspiracy and gang charges against 17-year-old Guzman, 19-year-old Leon Moreno, 18-year-old Ricky Mendoz, 19-year-old Tony Martin, and 21-year-old Christopher Donaldson. George Hellums, 18, has been arrested and is expected to be charged as well, Aguinaga said.
She described the defendants as "very well-documented gang members."
Guzman's girlfriend and the victim's ex, 18-year-old Antioch resident Jessica Juarez, has been charged with conspiracy after the fact.
"During the party, several witnesses saw her pointing at Martin (Navarro) while talking to Leon (Moreno)" Aguinaga said. "It was all over a girl, and gang-related."
Police said Guzman, who will turn 18 on Sunday and has been charged as an adult, instigated Navarro's Aug. 20 killing through phone calls and text messages while he was at a San Francisco 49ers game and his fellow gang members were with Navarro at an 18th birthday party for a pair of twin
boys on Seville Circle.
Navarro was associated with the defendants' rival gang, and the party hosts had no gang ties. Police say the accused -- except Guzman -- jumped Navarro and then shot him dead. They had crashed the party, and Navarro was brought by an invited guest.
Martin is also charged with attempted murder after being accused of shooting a 17-year-old female party guest in the shoulder as she was in a car attempting to speed away from the party.
While police rounded up most of the suspects last week, Martin was already in County Jail on murder and robbery charges in connection with the Aug. 28 killing of 27-year-old janitor Ever Osorio at Concord's Newhall Park.
His co-defendant in that case, 15-year-old Robinson Bermudez, was also at the Antioch party, but prosecutors declined to charge him for lack of evidence that he was involved in Navarro's death, Aguinaga said.
Defense attorney Michael Cardoza, who is representing Martin in the Concord homicide, could not be reached for comment.
Antioch police ask anyone with information about Guzman's whereabouts to call 925-778-2441.
Copyright 2011 - Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
