Police: Argument at meth house preceded 2015 homicide

SAN PABLO >> A 2015 homicide victim may have gotten into a fistfight with his killer minutes before he was followed, ambushed and shot more than a halfdozen times, police revealed in court records last week.

Deon Ward, 31, was gunned down in the 2100 block of Stanton Avenue around 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 4, 2015. His killing went unsolved for nearly four years, until prosecutors charged two suspects last week.

According to recently released court records, Ward had a complicated history with his suspected killer, 30-year-old Andrew James Cordova. The two had known each other for years and were friendly at times, but also had a history of violence.

Cordova was charged Monday with murdering Ward, just weeks after police put out a public call for information on the case. Cordova’s cousin, Michael Jeremy Collins, 23, also was charged with murder, as an accomplice.

The night of the killing, police say, Ward, Cordova, Collins and others hung out together at 20 Bonnie Drive, a residence in the unincorporated area known as Montalvin Manor, which borders San Pablo. The Bonnie Drive residence was known to locals as “Tweek City,” because it was a place where someone could show up any time day or night and be able to purchase methamphetamine.

In court records, police describe Ward as a drug dealer who sold meth and cocaine and occasionally clashed with other dealers in the area. Police looked at several other suspects before settling on Cordova and Collins.

About six months before Ward was gunned down, he and Cordova allegedly had a fistfight at the Bonnie Drive house, in which Ward got the better of Cordova.

Another man, known as “Bud,” jumped in to protect Cordova and punched Ward in the mouth, causing him to bleed. Ward, described by onlookers as “heavily intoxicated,” left the area, returned with a gun and shot up cars parked in front of the residence. No arrests were made, according to court records.

After that incident, Ward apparently squared things away with Cordova by giving his father an undisclosed amount of meth as a makeup gift. He and Cordova remained on good terms but had a propensity to argue and “play fight” when they got drunk, informants reportedly later told police.

On the night before Ward was killed, police say, history repeated itself. He and Cordova were drinking and possibly using drugs when they got into an argument. One witness told police they argued over who was the bigger drug dealer.

Once again, the argument turned into a fistfight, and once again, Ward emerged victorious and left the residence. This time, police allege, Cordova didn’t want to risk Ward getting his gun.

So, according to investigators, he and Collins hatched a plan: They retrieved a pistol and drove to where they figured Ward was heading — his San Pablo home on Stanton Drive, where he lived with his girlfriend. They allegedly ambushed Ward as he got out of his car, and Cordova allegedly shot him several times in the head, chest and back.

Collins and Cordova had their first court appearance this month but didn’t enter a plea. Cordova’s bail was set at $4 million, and Collins’ was set at $1 million. They both remain in custody.