OAKLAND — A 29-year-old man has been arrested and charged with murdering a teen boy during an attempted carjacking, according to court records.
Michael Smith, whose city of residence isn’t listed in court records, was charged with murder in the death of 15-year-old Christopher Munguia. Smith also faces charges of attempted carjacking, shooting into an occupied car, and possession of a firearm by a felon, court records show. The murder charges carry enhancements alleging Smith “personally and intentionally” shot Munguia, which will add time to Smith’s sentence if he’s convicted.
Munguia was shot and killed May 24, while riding in a vehicle near 87th Avenue and E Street in Oakland. Police, responding to reports of gunfire, identified a car as belonging to the shooter and attempted to pull it over, but it crashed. Officers arrested the driver and sole occupant, whom they identified as Smith.
Witnesses later told police that Smith and two others were attempting to rob Munguia and another person, and shot into the victims’ vehicle.
Despite the arrest, Smith wasn’t charged with murdering Munguia until Dec. 3, and he was re-arrested a week later. He’s been in Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on a no-bail hold ever since, and is set to be arraigned in January.
Smith has prior convictions for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, which makes it illegal for him to possess a firearm, according to the criminal complaint.
Source: www.mercurynews.com