Suspect in Samuel Nava Slaying Released

Editor's note: This article was updated Aug. 18, 12:05 p.m. to clarify the events that occurred prior to the shooting.

A suspect in the 2010 murder of a Hayward teen was released from prison Tuesday after testifying as an accessory to the homicide after the fact, according to the Alameda County District Attorney’s office.

, 20, testified during a preliminary hearing that she was with co-defendant Robert Yim, 22, on May 3, 2010 when 17-year-old was shot and killed, deputy district attorney Elgin Lowe said.

According to Lowe, Rodriguez told the court that the shooting occurred after a confrontation between Yim and the driver of the vehicle Nava was in while driving near the intersection of Mission Boulevard and Industrial Parkway in Hayward. Nava and Yim never exchanged words, according to the testimony. As the two parties were driving away, Yim exited Rodriguez’s car and ran toward the other car. She heard gunshots shortly after.

Yim then called Rodriguez to pick him up, Lowe said. Rodriguez said in court that she picked up Yim but did not know what had happened, according to Lowe. She found out later that Nava had been killed while sitting in the backseat of his friend’s car after watching news reports, Lowe said.

Due to her testimony, Rodriguez was released on her own recognizance and now faces a lesser felony accessory charge, rather than homicide, Lowe said.

If she testifies truthfully during Yim’s trial, Rodriguez could face up to five years of probation. If she does not testify truthfully during Yim’s trial, she could face up to three years in prison, Lowe said.

Yim and Rodriguez were after investigators determined them to be suspects in the case through "forensics examinations and witness accounts," according to a police report. Both last month.

Yim is scheduled to be arraigned on homicide charges on Aug. 24 in Dept. 513 at the Hayward Hall of Justice, according to online court documents.

Yim is . Eddins was gunned down in front of Barnard-White Middle School in Union City. Five others were also arrested and charged with murder for the benefit of a street gang in that case.

He is scheduled to enter a plea in that case tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. in Dept. 503 at the Hayward Hall of Justice.