MARTINEZ — A month after Harmony police recognized him because the shooter in a March murder, a 20-year-old man was arrested on homicide costs and booked in a Contra Costa jail, courtroom information present.
Sione Amanaki, of Harmony, was arrested April 16 on costs that he murdered 21-year-old Eric William Cavazos. Amanaki was arraigned Could 10, the place a choose revoked his bail, in keeping with courtroom information.
Amanaki’s co-defendant, 19-year-old Haley Sparks-Hadsell, of Martinez, simply hours after the March 21 murder, which occurred on the Solano Plaza. Each are charged with murdering and robbing Cavazos throughout a short altercation outdoors of a shoe retailer on the buying heart.
Police say that surveillance footage exhibits Cavazos arrive on the buying heart and start a dialog with Amanaki and Sparks-Hadsell, who had been already ready within the space. A short while later, a person recognized as Amanaki was seen pulling out a rifle, resulting in a short wrestle over the gun. That’s when Amanaki allegedly wrestled the gun free, stepped again, and shot Cavazos within the head.
Utilizing space surveillance footage and eyewitnesses, police had been in a position to present that Amanaki travelled to his Harmony residence instantly after the capturing, in keeping with authorities. When officers went there on the lookout for him he was gone, however a relative recognized him in a nonetheless of the surveillance footage, police say.
Cavazos died the place he was shot, earlier than an ambulance arrived, police stated. After he fell to the bottom, Sparks-Hadsell allegedly rifled by means of his pockets earlier than operating off. An internet obituary for Cavazos, a Harmony resident, describes him as “a fantastic instance of somebody who has each power and love.”
“His robust will and dedication was typically occasions mistaken for stubbornness however this was only a testomony of his unwavering coronary heart,” the obituary says. “Eric’s love is unquestionable.”
Amanaki and Sparks-Hadsell are subsequent due in courtroom on June 14. Their preliminary listening to date, the place a choose will assessment proof and decide if there’s sufficient to make them stand trial, has not but been set.
Sparks-Hadsell’s bail has been set at $1.06 million, courtroom information present.
