Chula Vista

A man who shot and killed a neighbor was acquitted of murder and manslaughter chargers.

Jose Irineo Cabrales, 54, of Chula Vista had been charged in the slaying of Isaac Diaz Drinnon, 35. The next-door neighbors had had a longstanding dispute. Drinnon was shot in the chest with a shotgun. The shooting took place March 12 in the 1100 block of 2nd Avenue in Chula Vista.

After hearing the jury verdict Thursday, Cabrales hugged his attorney and then told the departing jury, which had deliberated for three days, “Thank you very much.”

Cabrales did not deny the shooting, and his attorney, Joseph Cownacki, argued successfully that it was in self-defense. He said the two quarreled about many things, including the fence that separated their residences.

Cownacki said that, eight days before the shooting, Cabrales had complained to Chula Vista Police that Drinnon was displaying a gun, but that he could not speak English very well, and police didn’t realize the neighbor was armed.

Cabrales testified that he thought Drinnon was carrying a gun when he was confronted by him and the shooting occurred. The defendant was working on the fence that day.

San Diego Municipal Judge E. Mac Amos ordered Cabrales, who has been in County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail, released from custody.

It was Cabrales’ second trial. Jurors deadlocked Aug. 6 in his first murder trial.