Jury selection starts in 2005 park slaying case
RIVERSIDE — Jury selection got under way Wednesday in the trial of a reputed gang member accused of gunning down a 15-year-old boy near a Riverside park more than four years ago.
Israel Daniel Gomez, 23, could face the death penalty if convicted of killing Jesse Velasco on Dec. 3, 2005.
Along with first-degree murder, Gomez is charged with two counts of attempted murder and multiple gun and great bodily injury allegations, as well as an allegation that the crime was committed for the benefit of a street gang.
Around 150 prospective jurors were summoned Wednesday to fill out questionnaires regarding their availability and objectivity. Another 150 will be called today, according to a court clerk.
Opening arguments in the case are set for June 17.
On the day of the shooting, Gomez, an alleged member of the Hillside Riva street gang, confronted Velasco and several of the boy's friends a couple of blocks from Nichols Park, at Streeter Avenue and Sunnyside Drive, according to prosecutors.
Words were exchanged over whether Velasco belonged to a gang, and Gomez opened fire with a semiautomatic handgun, hitting Velasco in the heart and nearly wounding the other victims, the prosecution alleges.
Velasco, who was in his freshman year at Ramona High School, died at the scene.
Gomez was arrested three days later after being questioned by Riverside police detectives. He has been held without bail in Riverside County jail since then.
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20100603/NEWS0802/6030306/1006/NEWS01/Jury+selection+starts+in+2005+park+slaying+case
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