People v. Samaniego CA4/1

INTRODUCTION

On a January 2001 night, while Edgar M. was leaving Gloria I.’s home and walking toward the car his friend Alexander C. (Alex) was driving, Edgar encountered two teenagers. One fired several bullets at Edgar, hitting him in the chest, the flank, and the arm. One of the bullets hit Alex in the head, causing Alex’s death. Edgar worked with police to develop a composite sketch of the shooter, but no one was arrested in connection with the crime until more than a decade later, when confidential informants supplied police with information leading police to reopen the cold case. After reopening and investigating the shooting incident, police arrested Christopher Aranda, Enrique Palomino, and Jose Samaniego. Ultimately, police charged Samaniego with the attempted murder of Edgar and the murder of Alex. At trial, Aranda admitted he had been nearby at the time of the shooting but testified he did not participate in it and had no knowledge it was going to occur. He told the jury that immediately following the shooting, Palomino implied Samaniego was the shooter. Palomino testified he was present at the shooting, and he named Samaniego as the shooter. Samaniego’s defense was…