Youths to face murder charges in deadly shooting of Charles Marshall
Here's an advance look at tomorrow's story today. This story about the preliminary hearing held today for Todd Jose Tibbs and Brandon Parks-Burns in San Bernardino Superior Court, will be in Thursday's edition of The Sun.
By Mike Cruz
Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO -- Two youths were ordered held over for trial Wednesday in an alleged gang payback shooting that killed 22-year-old Charles Marshall last year.
After listening to witness testimony, a judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to hold over Todd Jose Tibbs, 19, and 17-year-old Brandon Parks-Burns on murder charges during proceedings in San Bernadino Superior Court.
The case became a issue for San Bernardino police after an altercation developed between officers and mourners at a vigil held the next day after Marshall's death at a Westside apartment complex on Aug. 18, 2007.
The clash occurred after officers showed up while residents mourned the death of the young father who was gunned down outside his residence at the Dorjils apartments, in the 1800 block of W. Bradley Court.
An internal investigation into the altercation remains ongoing.
Marshall's shooting was intended payback for the slaying of Edward Griffin, who was shot dead while sitting in a car at a San Bernardino intersection in February 2007, according to court testimony.
Prosecutors were pleased with Tibbs and Parks-Burns being held on charges in Marshall's shooting but said little after the hearing.
Deputy District Attorney Lisa Rogan declined to comment about the outcome of the hearing but said she looks forward to bringing it to trial.
A San Bernardino detective, Sgt. Travis Walker, testified that Tibbs and Parks-Burns were affiliated with a local street gang.
"This gang particularly likes to rule through fear and intimidation," Walker said, from the witness stand.
However, Marshall had no known gang ties and likely wasn't the intended target.
Police had no leads into the shooting because of a lack of cooperation, Walker said. But a witness, who claimed to have seen the shooting, later came forward with information.
The witness, Coasa Harvey, testified Wednesday that he saw the suspects outside and the shooting at a small group of individuals. Harvey received nothing from prosecutors in exchange for his testimony, he said.
Harvey, 22, was sentenced Oct. 17 to three years supervised probation and credit for time served, 152 days, on a narcotics possession case.
Tibbs' lawyer, James Gass, did not return a phone call for comment.
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