2 face hate crime, murder charges in killing at Tracy Chevron station; Another accused of helping…
Two people have been charged with murder and hate crime in the fatal shooting of a Black Navy veteran earlier this week in Tracy, California. Another person was arrested and charged with accessory to murder on Friday.
Christina Garner, 42, and Jeremy Jones, 49, were taken into custody on Wednesday following the shooting death of Justin Peoples, 30, in Tracy, California, on Tuesday, according to authorities.
District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar stated in a press release that Peoples was targeted because of his race. The charges against Garner and Jones were brought against them in a particular set of circumstances.
“There is no place for hate in our community. No one should be victimized because of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religion,” Salazar said. “These types of crimes are reprehensible and my administration will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law to hold those who perpetrate hate accountable.”
Family Responds To Tracy Murder, Hate Crime Arrests
The incident occurred at around 9:10 p.m. on Tuesday at a Chevon gas station located on the 3700 block of North Tracy Boulevard, according to the police report. According to police, Peoples was shot and stabbed numerous times.
According to the police, Peoples was critically injured and taken to the trauma center at San Joaquin General Hospital. Around 11:10 p.m., he succumbed to his injuries.
“This is where racism stops right here, racism stops right here! Justice for Justin!” the victim’s father, Maurice Peoples told KCRA 3.
“This young man went to Edison High School, Delta College and also after that served for our country, then come back to his city, where he lived, walked into a store and get gunned down just because the color of his skin,” said another family member, Bernice Bass.
Third defendant Christopher Dimenco, 58, appeared in court Friday and was formally charged with accessory after the fact. Officials say Dimenco tried to aid Garner and Jones in their escape. Dimenco was referred to as a threat to the community by state prosecutors at Friday’s hearing.
Jones is charged with premeditated murder in the first degree, a weapons enhancement for the use of a knife, and a special circumstance for the hate crime he committed against the victim. According to the DA, there is a growing body of evidence linking Jones to white supremacy, as well as tattoos on his body.
There is a murder charge against Christina Garner as well as a weapons enhancement charge for using a firearm in the commission of a crime with special circumstances because it was a hate crime.
On April 4, all three will be arraigned again in court. They are all being held without bail.
Source: KCRA
