Court hears officer’s testimony against German Juarez
Defendant faces 12 charges in trial
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Luis German Juarez, who faces six felony charges alone, stood in front of a jury Wednesday in the fourth day of his preliminary trial.
Juarez was arrested for his involvement in a shooting with three police officers back in August of 2018.
Yuma Police Department says that three officers were in the area of 22nd Street and Madison Avenue, documenting gang-related graffiti on a wall. Suddenly, Juarez and another suspect approached the officers and opened fire.
Officers identified the other man as 17-year-old Kane Xavier Perez, whom has since been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in the crime.
In Wednesday's hearing, the state called on its first witness, Officer Ricardo Castillo.
Castillo stated that the two men approached the officers while yelling and holding up gang signs before shooting. He then identified Juarez as being one of the two suspects in front of the court. However, Castillo does not believe Juarez fired any shots.
Juarez is facing three counts of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and six counts of assisting a criminal street gang.
