People v. Merideth CA2/1

BACKGROUND

On July 9, 2021, 25-year-old Merideth, a gang member, initiated a gun battle outside a marijuana dispensary with rival gang member Dequann Williams, who used crutches due to an

1 Undesignated statutory references will be to the Penal Code.

2 ankle injury. After the two exchanged approximately two dozen shots, Merideth killed Williams. The Los Angeles County District Attorney charged Merideth with murder (§ 187, subd. (a)) and alleged he personally used a firearm within the meaning of section 12022.5, subdivision (a). The information alleged as aggravating circumstances that Merideth was armed with and used a weapon during the commission of the offense, that the victim was particularly vulnerable, and that Merideth engaged in violent conduct indicating a serious danger to society. At trial, Merideth admitted shooting Williams but testified he did so in self-defense because the victim told him outside the marijuana dispensary that Merideth had “better be gone by the time [Williams got] to his car or it’s bad,” which Merideth interpreted as a death threat. He also testified that from an early age he was hypervigilant to danger. Beginning when he was only nine years old,…