People v. Roots CA3

BACKGROUND

An information filed in 2019 charged Roots with murder (§ 187, subd. (a)) and alleged that he personally and intentionally discharged a firearm causing great bodily injury or death (§ 12022.53, subd. (d)). The information further alleged that Roots had served a prior prison term. (Former § 667.5, subd. (b).) The facts of the underlying offense are described in our prior appellate opinion, People v. Roots (Jan. 27, 2022, C092570) (nonpub. opn.), which we cite only to summarize the background of the case. A witness, R.A., saw Roots engaged in a heated conversation with the victim, Lonnel Broadnax, who punched Roots and ran away. Surveillance video showed two figures following Broadnax, neither of whom was Roots. R.A. saw Roots get into a white SUV with a driver and chase Broadnax. Approximately four to five minutes later, R.A. heard 10 to 15 rapid pops that sounded like gunshots. (Ibid.)

2 Two witnesses in a residence heard gunshots and saw a man firing into a parking lot. One witness saw the man run toward a white compact car. When the witnesses went outside, three men in a white compact car pulled up and asked if the witnesses had seen their cousin. When one of the…