"The attack was witnessed by passers-by and others at the Josie de la Cruz Park at 1637 Fruitvale Ave. Authorities say a little after 3 p.m., one of the two suspects argued with Mejia-Lemus, then retrieved two bats from a nearby homeless encampment where they lived. One of the suspects was seen with a machete, according to police testimony."
"An eyewitness testified at the 2022 preliminary hearing that Mejia-Lemus pleaded "leave me alone" as he was being killed, but that both men continued to hit him. "The worst thing was when he was already down on the ground they just kept beating him," the man testified. Another witness testified that Mejia-Lemus claimed to have a knife, but others said he was unarmed, according to court records."
Two men pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and agreed to 12-year prison terms for the May 10, 2020 killing of 28-year-old Jose Mejia-Lemus. Melvin Espinolobo, 24, and Alexander Garciaamaya, 29, remain at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin and are expected to be formally sentenced in December. The killing occurred around 3 p.m. at Josie de la Cruz Park in Fruitvale and was witnessed by passers-by. Authorities say one suspect argued with Mejia-Lemus, retrieved two bats from a nearby homeless encampment, and one suspect was seen with a machete. Witnesses described Mejia-Lemus pleading and being repeatedly beaten. Prosecutors dropped murder charges under the plea agreement.
Read at The Mercury News
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