He was gonna kill us': Oakland murder case dismissed for insufficient evidence'

"Alameda County prosecutors dismissed the murder case against a San Leandro man about a year after conflicting stories by eyewitnesses gave rise to a potential self-defense theory, court records show. Anthony Ortega, 27, was charged in 2023 with murdering 23-year-old Juan Garcia Salazar Jr., a resident of Richmond and Stockton, over what started as an argument about a car blocking the roadway, according to court records. Prosecutors cited insufficient evidence when they formally moved to throw out the case."

"The dismissal occurred last January but hasn't been previously reported. At Ortega's 2024 preliminary hearing, Judge Mark McCannon said there were credibility issues with prosecution and defense witnesses and that he believed a jury should have the final say. I truly didn't believe your witnesses, McCannon said to Ortega's lawyer, but then added, Just like the prosecution's witnesses. I found issues with all of the testimony."

"Salazar was fatally shot just before 3 a.m. March 26, 2023 in the 3300 block of 13th Avenue, just south of Interstate 580. A woman with Salazar told police that he bought marijuana from someone in a large group of people, including Ortega, and then she casually mentioned she had dated Ortega, causing Salazar to become enraged, according to court records."

Anthony Ortega, 27, faced a 2023 murder charge in the death of 23-year-old Juan Garcia Salazar Jr. after a confrontation over a car blocking the roadway. Ortega posted $500,000 bail and remained free for most of the case. Prosecutors formally dismissed the case for insufficient evidence in January. At a 2024 preliminary hearing, Judge Mark McCannon said credibility problems existed with both prosecution and defense witnesses and expressed that a jury should decide. Salazar was fatally shot March 26, 2023. Eyewitness accounts conflicted: a woman said Salazar became enraged after mentioning she had dated Ortega; a defense witness said Salazar threatened the group and boasted about having shells.

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