Crime & Safety

Craiglist Killing Suspects Ordered to Stand Trial

Three teens accused of robbing and shooting an 18-year-old La Jolla High graduate to death in May will stand trial.

A judge ruled Wednesday that Rashon Abernathy, 17, Shaquille Jordan, 17, and Seandell Jones, 18 will stand trial for the shooting death of 18-year-old Garrett Berki, a La Jolla High graduate. Berki, a Mission Beach resident, was allegedly robbed at gunpoint when he answered a Craigslist ad in southeast San Diego and was subsequently shot. All three teens are being prosecuted as adults.

Judge Joan Weber found that enough evidence was presented in the two-day preliminary hearing for the defendants to stand trial on charges of murder, robbery, auto theft and shooting into an occupied vehicle, with an allegation that the crimes were committed for the benefit of a street gang.

In the first day of the preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Deputy District Attorney Kristian Trocha said Berki and his girlfriend went to Paradise Hills in southeast San Diego on May 11 to buy an Apple MacBook Pro laptop for $600. Trocha said when the victim pulled out his money, one of the defendants pulled out a handgun and robbed the victims of the cash and their cellphones.

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Trocha said Berki and his girlfriend saw the defendants get into a car driven by Jones and followed their vehicle. When Berki tried to box in their vehicle in a cul-de-sac, Abernathy, who was seated behind the driver, fired one shot through the windshield striking Berki in the chest, Trocha alleged. Berki later died at a hospital.

Abernathy is also charged with stealing $600 from a Navy man, who responded to a Craigslist ad to buy a similar computer on May 5 in Paradise Hills.

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Abernathy faces up to 60 years to life in prison if convicted, and Jordan and Jones would face 50 years to life behind bars, Trocha said.

A Superior Court arraignment is set for Oct. 27.

City News Service contributed to this report.


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