Moss Landing man found guilty of killing maintenance worker

A Moss Landing man was found guilty of killing a maintenance worker and pulling out a gun in front of officers.

The incident occurred in February 2017. Forty-year-old Jose De Jesus Estrada, who had lived and worked as a property manager at a home in Moss Landing for more than 10 years, became violent when another man took over his job, according to Monterey County District Attorney, Dean Flippo.

Flippo said that over time Estrada stopped fulfilling his duties as the property manager.

Estrada had introduced the victim Alejandro Reyes to the property owner. Reyes began cleaning up the property and took over Estrada’s duties as property manager.

“Estrada became enraged that Reyes was taking over his duties and was seen yelling at Reyes just three days before the murder. Estrada was upset and he left the property on February 13, 2017.”

On Feb.15, 2017, Estrada went back to the property. He hit Reyes with a large ceramic tile and a .22 caliber gun said Flippo. Estrada fired one shot into Reye’s upper chest. He then hit Reyes with the large tile on the back of his head, face, and chest causing multiple rib fractures, a fractured sternum, a broken cheek bone, a neck fracture and multiple other injuries caused by blunt force trauma.

“The property manager and another civilian witness observed Estrada on the property and covered in blood. The blood on his face was tested and it was a positive match for Alejandro Reyes,” said Flippo.

When officers arrived, Estrada refused to come out of the home for an hour.

“At one point, Estrada exited, holding a large firearm in the presence of many officers,” said Flippo.

Estrada will be sentenced on June 15. He faces up to 50 years to life in state prison.