(KRON) — A man who police said was an “active participant” in the 2022 murder of a 33-year-old in East Palo Alto was sentenced Monday to six years in state prison, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office announced.
Ceferino Vasquez Lopez pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter on Jan. 13 and admitted the enhancement of a serious and violent felony allegation.
On the night of July 4, 2022, Lopez and his cousin Wilmer Vasquez Amador, 29 and 19-year-old East Palo Alto residents at the time, were at an apartment complex in the 400 block of East O’Keefe Street. According to prosecutors, Amador was enraged that the 33-year-old victim, Abner Oswaldo Najeraxol, was dating a 17-year-old girl.
Witnesses reported seeing Amador pull out a folding knife and stab Oswaldo Najeraxol once in the neck “without any provocation,” the DA’s office said. Responding East Palo Alto Police Department officers found the victim bleeding out at the scene.
A trail of blood led police to a nearby apartment where Amador was found to be hiding. The knife used in the fatal stabbing was found close by.
After obtaining surveillance video of the murder, Lopez was identified days later as a second participant, according to authorities. The DA’s office said the footage showed Lopez holding a knife to Oswaldo Najeraxol’s face and holding his arm down.
As part of his plea deal, Lopez was sentenced to six years in state prison. He received 1,124 days of credit for time served.
Amador pleaded no contest on Jan. 13 to second-degree murder and admitted to enhancements of the use of a knife and the serious and violent felony allegation. The plea deal will give Amador 16 years to life in state prison, according to the DA’s office. His sentencing is scheduled for March 18.
(KRON) — A man who police said was an “active participant” in the 2022 murder of a 33-year-old in East Palo Alto was sentenced Monday to six years in state prison, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office announced. Ceferino Vasquez Lopez pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter on Jan. 13 and admitted the enhancement […]
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