Monterey County DA said that alleged Greenfield murder suspect was acting in self-defense
GREENFIELD, Calif. (KION-TV): UPDATE ON NOV. 3 AT 1:19 PM: The Monterey County District Attorney's Office has said that 20-year-old Jamie Cerna was acting in self-defense when he allegedly killed Ramiro Silva Martin on Oct. 29.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Berkely Brannon said there was insufficient evidence to file charges on Cerna.
According to Brannon, the incident captured on video showed Cerna was alone, seated in the front passenger seat of a parked vehicle.
Brannon said that Silva Martin was an assailant armed with a knife who got out of a parked vehicle immediately adjacent and parallel to the car Cerna sat in.
Silva Martin moved around the vehicles, pulled Cerna's door open, and brandished a knife. Brannon said Cerna was confronted with deadly force, and that is when he fired the shots killing Silva Martin.
Cerna was stabbed in the left leg and treated at a local hospital. The knife that Silva Martin used was recovered at the scene.
A person has a right to use deadly force in self-defense if that person has a reasonable belief they are in imminent danger of death or great bodily injury. Under the law, a person is not required to retreat but instead may stand his or her ground, even if options other than self-defense exist. To file criminal charges, the district attorney requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime was committed. In a self defense case, the district attorney must prove the person claiming self-defense did not have a reasonable belief they were in imminent danger of death or great bodily injury.
Monterey County District Attorney's Office
Two more arrested for aiding in Greenfield gang-related shooting homicide: police
NOV. 3 AT 10:17 AM: The South Monterey County Task Force said they made two more arrests in a homicide case where a 20-year-old was shot and killed Saturday.
Adrian Martinez-Vasquez, 19, was arrested at his home on the 200 block of Tom Rodgers Circle, and Alexis Olivera, 19, was arrested at his home on the 100 block of 8th Street. Both arrests were made Wednesday night, said Greenfield Police.
Police say both new suspects aided Jaime Cerna Saturday after he allegedly murdered Ramiro Silva Martin on the 50th block of Fourth Street.
DA will not file criminal charges for Greenfield gang murder suspect: police
NOV. 2 AT 5:59 PM: Greenfield Police have arrested a man in connection with a gang-related murder on Saturday.
Fredy Martinez, 19, of Greenfield, was arrested for aiding murder suspect Jaime Cerna after the murder and destroying evidence. Martinez was taken to Monterey County Jail, said police.
The search warrant was served Tuesday night on the 300 block of Hutchinson Drive.
Greenfield Police said that the Monterey County District Attorney's Office has chosen not to file criminal charges on suspect Jaime Cerna.
We are disappointed to report that today, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office has decided not to file criminal charges on the suspect, Jaime Cerna, despite the video evidence showing the horrific killing, and Cerna being arrested within 2 hours of the homicide.
We will continue to work all investigative leads to overcome the obstacles before us, and we ask for your patience as we work with our partner agencies to seek justice for the victim and his family.
Greenfield Police
20-year-old man killed in Greenfield shooting, Greenfield gang member arrested on murder charges
UPDATE ON OCT. 30 AT 11:04 AM: A Greenfield gang member was arrested on Saturday night on murder charges after allegedly shooting and killing Ramiro Silva Martin, 20, earlier on Saturday morning.
20-year-old Jamie Cerna was arrested and booked into the Monterey County Jail on first-degree murder and attempted murder charges.
Police said there was another victim male victim found. It is unclear what his condition is or what his involvement was in the shooting.
Officers located Silva Martin on the 50th block of Fourth Street as he was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Silva Martin was transported to a local hospital but died shortly after arriving to the hospital.
Soledad PD and South Monterey County Task Force detectives were called in and assisted Greenfield PD with the investigation.
After investigators collected evidence, including looking at residential home security cameras and talking to witnesses, a suspect was identified.
Cerna was found at Mee Memorial Hospital in King City with a stab wound to the leg and taken into custody.
Greenfield Police shared that witnesses at the scene saw Cerna suffering from a stab wound and connected other evidence to determine Cerna was the suspect.
Investigators continued their investigation, leading them to Cerna's residence on the 50 block of Moreno Street. They located a 9mm semiautomatic firearm in the residence, which they believe was the murder weapon, ammunition, and a loaded extended magazine.
Investigators concluded that Cerna was a gang member from Greenfield, and the incident appears to be gang-related.
Greenfield Police is asking for any additional witnesses who have information on the shooting to contact the department.
ORIGINAL STORY
Greenfield Police are investigating a shooting that happened in the city around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning.
Officers responded to the 50 block of Fourth Street, where they found a victim suffering from at least one gunshot wound. The victim was taken to a local hospital. His condition is unknown at this time, and we are working on getting more information.
