People v. Looney CA3

BACKGROUND

Defendant spent the day with his friend Antonio Amador on December 30, 2021. The two drank alcohol and consumed drugs. When they went to the house of defendant’s mother-in-law to drop off some keys, defendant told his mother-in-law “shit” was going down. He then punched Amador in the face and body, causing Amador to fall to the ground. Defendant pointed a gun at Amador, told his mother-in-law that Amador was trying to kill him, and shot Amador. Amador died at the scene. Although witnesses did not see Amador do anything to provoke defendant’s actions, defendant repeatedly asserted that Amador tried to kill him. At trial, defendant testified that before they arrived at the mother-in-law’s house, Amador had pointed a gun at defendant and threatened to shoot him. Defendant said he hit Amador at the mother-in-law’s house because he saw Amador pulling out a gun. According to defendant, the gun went off after defendant grabbed it from Amador. Defendant said he shot Amador because Amador was going to kill him. The jury found defendant not guilty of murder but guilty of voluntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The jury also found that defendant…