Man, 21, Pleads Not Guilty to Fatal Oakland Shooting in February

Oakland, CA— An Oakland man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a murder charge stemming from the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old man in East Oakland in February.

At a brief hearing, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Paul Delucchi ordered 21-year-old Randy Escalante to return to court on Aug. 25 for a pretrial hearing in his case, in which he's accused of shooting Jonathan Sanchez in the 500 block of Catron Drive at 3:38 p.m. on Feb. 15.

In addition to the murder charge for Sanchez's death, Escalante is charged with assault with a semi-automatic firearm for allegedly shooting a second man who was with Sanchez.

After he was shot, Sanchez was taken to a hospital to be treated for his gunshot wounds but died a short time later. The other man who was shot survived.

Oakland police said Escalante fled the shooting scene but the following night, he walked into Oakland police headquarters, surrendered and asked for a lawyer, police said.

Police didn't disclose a motive for the shooting.

By Bay City News

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