Robert was a loving and giving young man': Hayward man gets 13 years for killing friend

"We will never receive a call from Robert singing or just checking in to see how someone is doing or just to make us laugh. Robert was a loving and giving young man, Saffold's mother, Mary Ann Brooks, said in court. If you needed help, he would come if he could. Robert had been starting to move forward in a positive manner such as changing his attitude and demeanor."

"Velasquez shot and killed Saffold on the morning June 13, 2022, in a junkyard backyard of a residence on 27000 block of Whitman Street, then attempted to doctor the crime scene and come up with a cover story, according to police testimony. First he told police Saffold accidentally shot himself while pistol-whipping Velasquez, then said the gun went off during a struggle. When police told him a surveillance camera captured the shooting he gave a third version that was more consistent with the footage."

"In a July court hearing, 38-year-old Steven Velasquez listened to two of Robert Lee Saffold loved ones speak before he was formally sentenced. At an earlier court date, Velasquez pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in a plea deal with prosecutors, who dropped a murder charge in return, court records show. Velasquez didn't speak at the hearing. He was transferred to North Kern State Prison on Aug. 15, and remains there, records show."

Steven Velasquez received a 13-year prison sentence after pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter for the June 13, 2022, shooting death of Robert Lee Saffold. The killing occurred in a junkyard backyard on Whitman Street; Velasquez gave multiple conflicting accounts until surveillance footage prompted a more consistent version. Saffold's mother described him as loving, giving, and beginning to improve his attitude. Defense counsel asserted self-defense, claiming Saffold was a large man allegedly high on methamphetamine. After the homicide Velasquez attempted to doctor the scene, wedge the gun into Saffold's fingers, and remove jewelry.

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