Witnesses testify in court for Rowland Homicide, say the victim threatened the suspect before

John Nate Gardea came to Yuma to turn his life around and now he sits behind bars accused of killing 42-year-old Edward Rowland Jr.

Gardea was in court Wednesday afternoon hoping to hear conditions of release, but after witnesses shared their testimonies, Judge Haws said the court has a lot to consider with the strength of evidence in determining the appropriate conditions of release.

“My brother John Gardea did admit to shooting Edward Rowland Jr., but he did not admit to killing the gentleman, he does admit to shooting him in self-defense to get him away from him,” shared Gardea’s sister, Anna Gardea.

Two witnesses stood before Judge Haws to confess their side of the story, Terry Westmoreland is the manager at the Twin Palms apartments and she said she heard the gunshots.

State Attorney: Did you hear the shots?

Terry Westmoreland says: “Yes.”

State Attorney: Did you go outside?

Terry Westmoreland: “I opened my own front door which is apartment one”

State Attorney: what did you see?

Terry Westmoreland: I saw Eddie Rowland Jr. with a man around his waist a taller man than Eddie Jr., however, he does not look like that because what I saw from my front door was a man who does not have tattoos” referring to Gardea.

Another witness, an alleged close friend of Rowland Jr. spoke out on her experience with the victim, saying there was a time when they had an altercation and he reacted in a frightening manner.

“He found out that I was getting picked up and he immediately picked up a brick off of the ground, and I had the next door neighbor’s boyfriend walk me to the corner because I was scared to walk away from that apartment by myself,” shared Jennifer Morgan, an alleged close friend to Rowland.

The accused suspect’s sister says her brother was being threatened by Rowland.

“After the family cleaned up the apartment they found my brother’s cards, social security, and driver’s license in Rowland’s apartment…it is crazy what I am hearing today in court versus what is being said by other people; there are huge discrepancies,” said Anna Gardea.

Judge Haws says after the evidence and testimonies shared by witnesses the court will determine the appropriate conditions of release. Regardless of the witnesses testifying, the state attorney does not agree he should be released on any conditions whether it be a lower bond or anything else.

The court considers the pre-trial report. However, the defendant does have multiple prior felony convictions that reside more in California than in Arizona. The Judge also finds that Gardea does pose a potential danger to the community given with the lengthy criminal history that he has.

The court finds the bond is appropriate at $500,000. Gardea will be seen back in court on July 18th.