A Canyon Country man pleaded no contest Tuesday to second-degree murder for his father’s shooting death nearly two years ago.
Juan Alexander Mejia, 32, is facing 15 years to life in state prison, with sentencing set for June 5 at the San Fernando courthouse.
Mejia came home drunk, kicked the garage door open and shot his father once in the head on May 16, 2013, according to Deputy District Attorney Nathan Bartos.
The 53-year-old victim, also named Juan Mejia, slept inside the garage with the door locked because of previous violent outbursts by his son, according to court testimony.
The defendant admitted pointing the gun at his father, but claimed to have accidentally fired the weapon. He fled after the shooting and buried the weapon in a riverbed, and was taken into custody two days later, the prosecutor said.
— City News Service