"The voluntary manslaughter charge means jurors determined the killing was unlawful but less serious than murder, either because Soto acted in the 'heat of passion' or because he used 'imperfect self-defense.' The killing took place on the front yard of a home on the 200 block of Cobblestone Drive in Antioch, after Soto, Morello, and several others attended a rapper's music video shoot in downtown Antioch."
"At trial, prosecutors argued Soto shot Morello repeatedly, chasing him down and finishing him off with a final gunshot after an injured Morello was attempting to limp away. Soto's lawyer, William Welch, said that Soto had just endured a 'merciless' beating inside the home and that he was in 'fight or flight' mode, calling a psychiatrist to testify about the psychological effects of enduring a physical assault."
"Neighbors' security camera captured the entire thing, showing a nearby resident running for cover as the conflict escalated, and that person yelled at Soto for pulling a gun just before gunshots rang out. Morello, an underground East Contra Costa rapper who went by the stage name $mooth, crawled into the home after being shot but succumbed to his injuries on the kitchen floor."
Jesus Soto, 37, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and a gun enhancement for the August 25, 2025 killing of 27-year-old Richard Morello Jr. in Antioch. The incident occurred after a confrontation at a rapper's music video shoot escalated from inside a home to the front yard. Prosecutors argued Soto shot Morello repeatedly and chased him down, while the defense claimed Soto had endured a brutal beating inside the home and acted in self-defense while in fight-or-flight mode. Security camera footage captured the entire incident. Morello, an underground rapper, died from his injuries on the kitchen floor, leaving behind a wife and two young children.
Read at The Mercury News
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