From MySanAntonio.com of November 11, 2005
Murder charge dropped; self-defense seen
Prosecutors have dropped a murder charge against a man, concluding that he fatally shot another man in self-defense and not in a jealous rage over a woman.
Richard Isaac Estrada remains charged with evading arrest in the high-speed chase with police that followed the June 5 shooting at Menefee Boulevard and South Gen. McMullen Drive.
Police initially believed that Estrada killed Randy Lopez, 19, in a drive-by shooting motivated by jealousy over a woman.
Further witness interviews, supported by evidence, led prosecutors at the Bexar County district attorney's office to believe that four men attacked Estrada, 21, who fired his gun to defend himself.
"All in all, it was a valid self-defense claim," First Assistant District Attorney Cliff Herberg said. "A murder charge would never hold up in court."
The murder charge was dropped last week. The district attorney's office notified Lopez's family beforehand.
According to prosecutors, Estrada received a phone call from a woman who was arguing with Lopez in an apartment. The woman asked Estrada to pick her up.
When Estrada arrived, four men attacked him before he got out of his car, Herberg said. Estrada was punched in the face, a claim supported by his injuries, and his attackers tried to grab the keys and get into the car.
Estrada pulled his gun and fired several times, hitting two of the men. Lopez died. Another man was injured.
Estrada drove off, but was arrested a short distance away.
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