Defense attorney seeks to settle shooting case and avoid trial
While the case against one of the two men charged in connection to a shooting in an alley that left two people injured could still go to trial, it could be resolved without one, according to his attorney.
In updating the court on the status of the case, the public defender representing 33-year-old Daniel Gilbert Munoz said he has made what he believes is a reasonable proposal for terms of a plea agreement to prosecutors and would like to have a settlement conference held.
He then requested Presiding Superior Court Judge David Haws to assign Superior Court Judge Brandon Kinsey to conduct the settlement conference.
Munoz has been charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and one count each of aggravated assault with intent to cause serious physical injury and criminal damage. He remains in custody on a $250,000 cashonly bond.
A settlement conference is a formal meeting in which the prosecutor, defense attorney and the judge meet to discuss the case to see if a deal can be made to avoid going to trial.
In addition to granting the request, Judge Haws also scheduled a status hearing in the case for 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 12.
According to Yuma police, at 12:02 p.m. on May 23, officers responded to a report of a disturbance in the area of the 2000 block of South Avenue A, with shots having been fired at the location.
When officers arrived on scene, they found that a shooting had happened in the alleyway between Avenue A and 11th Avenue. The initial investigation revealed that three vehicles were involved in the incident and that multiple shots had been fired.
All three cars left the scene after the shooting, with one running into the back wall of the All Seasons Florist building, which is located in the 2000 block of South Avenue A.
Both of the injured individuals — a male and a female — were in the same car and were able to drive themselves to Yuma Regional Medical Center, where they were treated for injuries that were not lifethreatening.
Later that afternoon, at approximately 1:30 p.m. one of the vehicles involved was located in Somerton. Due to the severity of the crime, the Yuma Police Department Special Enforcement Team was deployed to the area of Somerton Avenue and Fulton Street, where the suspect was presumed to be hiding.
Somerton Middle School was placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure, due to its proximity to the incident.
The investigation is ongoing, and Yuma police are continuing to search for the third vehicle that was involved and any additional suspects.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 5396854. Find him on Facebook at www. Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.