4 Plead Guilty in Fatal Santee Drive-By Shooting

Four young men charged with a drive-by shooting at a Santee party that killed one and wounded three others, pleaded guilty Monday.

Jose Crespo, 19, who is believed to have fired the fatal shot that killed Asia Dunlap, 20, on March 2, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

A co-defendant who also is charged with firing a gun at departing party guests, Jonathon McGee, 19, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

The driver of a pickup truck, Ron Israel, 19, and a passenger, Christopher Mendez, 21, both pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Israel also pleaded guilty to three counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

The shooting occurred in the 8400 block of Rumson Drive in Santee after the men were ejected from a party.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Doug Mooney said Crespo faces a sentence of 16 years to life in state prison. McGee faces a 16-year term, he said.

Mendez could receive a maximum 11-year sentence, and Israel could get 10 years in the sentencing agreement, Mooney said.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Allen Preckel scheduled sentencing for Oct. 29.

Also wounded at the party were James Buska, 20, Rocky Whitfield, 18, and Caesar Franco, 19, all of Santee.

Mendez is from Santee. Israel, Crespo and McGee are all from San Diego. All remain in County Jail.

Crespo and Israel both have prior records in Juvenile Court, where both were convicted of vandalizing a synagogue and the home of a Jewish woman in San Carlos in 1988. Both received sentences of volunteer work.