Men accused of thrill killing face death penalty
Two men accused of killing a developmentally disabled man in Lincoln Acres last year strictly for the thrill of it must stand trial on murder and special circumstance allegations that could lead to the death penalty, a judge ruled Thursday.
Humberto Emanuel Galvez, 19, and Juan Ignacio Gomez, 21, are charged in the slaying of 21-year-old Jordan Hickey on April 29, 2011.
After a three-day preliminary hearing at the South Bay Courthouse, Judge Francis Devaney found there was enough evidence for the defendants to stand trial for murder with a special circumstance allegation of murder by shooting from a moving vehicle. They also face charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and an unrelated attempted robbery.
At the time of the defendants' arrests in March, authorities said they were associated with a street gang. However, Devaney today did not hold the defendants to answer on gang allegations.
District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis will decide later if the death penalty will be sought.
The day of the killing, sheriff's deputies responding to a report of gunfire found Hickey mortally wounded near his bicycle on a sidewalk alongside Grove Street, a few blocks from his home in National City. He died at the scene.
Deputy District Attorney David Grapilon said Galvez and Gomez were "driving around, essentially looking for someone to shoot.'' They had armed themselves with a shotgun, Grapilon said.
Galvez and Gomez happened to pull alongside Hickey, who they didn't appear to know, Grapilon said.
Grapilon said the defendants fired "for the thrill of it.''
Galvez and Gomez will be back in court July 19 for arraignment.
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