Man not charged in teen’s slaying
Prosecutors have so far declined to file charges against a Bellflower man arrested on suspicion of murder in the weekend shooting death of a 15-year-old boy allegedly trying to steal marijuana plants grown for medicinal purposes.
Officials said more investigation is needed into the fatal shooting of Jacob Walker. Detectives arrested Jerry Cress, 57, in connection with the shooting outside his Park Street home before daybreak Sunday. Cress has told police that he grows marijuana to ease liver cancer pain and that the teenager and an adult accomplice were trying to steal the plants.
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office has yet to charge the alleged accomplice, Duane Berry, 24, Jacob’s brother. Berry was arrested because the shooting occurred during the alleged commission of a felony burglary. He is unlikely to be released from custody, authorities said, because he faces a pending trial on unrelated drug charges.
“There will be no charges at this point, but it doesn’t mean the case is closed,” said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office. “We are referring the matter back for further investigation. We are also hoping witnesses come forward.”
Sources familiar with the investigation said that other people might have been at the scene at the time of the shooting.
Jacob’s autopsy was still pending, Robison said.
To file charges against Cress, prosecutors would need to show that he wasn’t acting in self-defense and wasn’t in reasonable fear for his life when he allegedly shot the teenager.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department homicide detectives said people in the neighborhood had tried to break into Cress’ backyard shed before.
According to Sheriff’s Capt. Ray Peavy, the brothers were trying to break into the shed about 6:30 a.m. Sunday when Cress came out, confronted the intruders and fired a gun. Accompanied by Berry, Jacob turned up a short time later at Lakewood Regional Medical Center in Lakewood, where he died.
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