Witness testifies suspect made threat moments before Fresno shooting

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- It's been much than 8 months since 2 men were recovered changeable successful the thoroughfare successful Central Fresno. One died and the different is waiting to find retired if he'll basal trial. Friday, Montray Skinner appeared successful tribunal for the 2nd time of his preliminary hearing.

Skinner is charged successful the decease of Nathaniel Casteneda connected May 11, 2023, but the archetypal 15 minutes of the preliminary proceeding were spent discussing the witnesser expected to instrumentality the basal Friday greeting and what she could oregon could not beryllium questioned astir and what protections she whitethorn person for her testimony.

Action News cannot amusement civilian witnesses' faces successful the case.

The witness, Sylvia Zavala, has unfastened cases against her and the defence had tried to question her astir events months earlier the shooting. The justice yet ruled the witnesser could not beryllium questioned astir incidents different than the nighttime of May 11th and that she would person to reply questions astir the nighttime of the shooting, including her cause usage astatine the time.

Zavala is the sister-in-law of Casteneda and was said to beryllium with him and her fellow astatine the time. She said she was nether the power of meth and wearing a motorcycle helmet erstwhile the shooting happened limiting her consciousness of what was happening. However, she said she was capable to intelligibly perceive threats made by Skinner towards their radical and that is erstwhile she said she grabbed a weapon and gave it to Casteneda.

"At the clip you went to spell get that firearm, what were you feeling," asked authoritative David Olmos.

"I consciousness I was threatened," said Zavala. "I conscionable went into action; helium threatened to sprout america all, truthful I was afraid."

Zavala said she had ne'er met Skinner earlier that night. It was revealed successful tribunal that she had identified him done surveillance video of the incident.

Neither the prosecution nor the defence referred to Skinner by sanction erstwhile questioning Zavala astir the shooting, lone referring to him arsenic "The African American Male," which led to a backmost and distant during the hearing.

"Can you constituent to wherever that idiosyncratic is seated and picture what he's wearing," asked Olmos.

"He's successful a reddish jumpsuit, "said Zavala.

Amy Freitas, who is representing Skinner stepped successful to clarify a fewer moments later.

"Just for the record, the idiosyncratic that you identified conscionable present successful tribunal is the lone African American antheral that you spot successful this courtroom currently, is that right," asked Amy Freitas, defence attorney.

"Correct," said Zavala.

Minutes aboriginal Olmos continued his questioning, reasserting the identification.

"And you saw 1 space connected White Street," said Olmos. "Did you spot an African American antheral get changeable successful the eye, holding his near eye? Do you callback seeing that?"

"Yes," said Zavala.

"Okay, and arsenic you beryllium here, bash you spot the suspect that you conscionable pointed out," asked Olmos. "What bash you spot implicit his near eye?"

"An oculus patch," said Zavala.

The preliminary proceeding is expected to proceed Monday greeting and past it volition beryllium up to the justice to determine if determination is capable grounds to effort Skinner. He is charged with execution and attempted execution with weapon enhancements and being a felon possessing a gun. He besides has a anterior onslaught that would beryllium considered if helium is tried.

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