In re J.P. CA2/6

Facts of the Offense On July 1, 2018, an acquaintance hosted a 17th birthday party for appellant at a hotel in Oxnard. Among the guests were Hector Solarez, appellant’s 15-year-old girlfriend, C.E., her 19-year-old sister, G.E., and G.E.’s boyfriend, Edwin Zavala. The party guests listened to music and drank alcohol. An argument erupted around 10:00 p.m. after G.E. told everyone to quiet down. Solarez brandished a gun and challenged Zavala to a fight. Appellant took the gun from Solarez. G.E. told Solarez to leave and he did. Both Edwin and appellant also left. G.E. invited some other friends, including the victim, Donald Reyes, to the hotel room. Appellant and Solarez, who both seemed to be intoxicated, returned to the room around 3:00 a.m. Solarez insisted on retrieving a bottle of alcohol he had brought to the party. G.E. offered to get it for him. In the meantime, Solarez and Donald Reyes got into an argument. G.E. intervened, trying to prevent a fight. Appellant was standing behind G.E. He pulled the gun out of his waistband, reached around G.E. and fired at Reyes three times, killing him. He then fled the scene with Solarez. Following his arrest, appellant initially denied…