"Later, on the 200 block of Cobblestone Drive, at least four to five people, including Morello, apparently became displeased with Soto and kicked him out of the home. Video from a neighbor's Ring camera shows a man identified by police as Soto pulling a pistol, then chasing Morello while continuing to shoot, and pulling the trigger at least twice after Morello stumbles and falls to the ground."
"In his opening statement, Deputy District Attorney James Bass didn't say why the others wanted to eject Soto from their gathering that night, but said the case came down to two things: Soto's pride and his murderous intent that formed when it was hurt. You are about to see a man getting shot to death, Bass warned the jury, after echoing Soto's first words heard on video after the gun goes off: Westside! Who wants more?"
"His attorney says the killing was in self-defense, done after the others activated Soto's fight or flight response by kicking and pummeling him so viscously that it activated a camera's sound response across the street. Morello, an East Contra Costa rapper who used the stage name $mooth, died from multiple gunshot wounds after crawling into the home where he and the others had spent much of the evening."
Jesus Soto, 37, shot and killed 27-year-old Richard Morello Jr. outside a home in southeast Antioch after earlier appearing with him in a waterfront music video. At least four or five people ejected Soto from the gathering on Cobblestone Drive. Neighborhood Ring video shows Soto pulling a pistol, chasing Morello, and firing multiple times, including at least two shots after Morello fell. Morello crawled back into the home and died from multiple gunshot wounds. Soto was arrested two days later in Stockton. Defense claims self-defense after Soto was beaten; the prosecutor says wounded pride created murderous intent. Morello left a wife and two children, ages 6 and 8.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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