Pasco teen testifies in murder trial, has difficulty remembering shooting

A Pasco teen who avoided a murder charge by agreeing to testify against his fellow gang member gave vague answers Tuesday about a 2015 shooting.

Abraham Barajas, who turns 18 next Monday, mumbled through his testimony and often replied, “I don’t know” and “I don’t remember.”

Barajas claimed he could not recall the details of the day Juan C. Melgoza was killed in the Fiesta Foods parking lot because “it’s been a long time.”

Melgoza, 42, died Feb. 4, 2015, after being hit with one bullet outside the Pasco grocery store.

Chris Pedroza-DeSantiago, 22, is on trial in Franklin County Superior Court for the murder.

Asked on Tuesday if Pedroza-DeSantiago had explained back then why he suddenly wanted to meet up with the teen, Barajas said, “Not really, no.”

He further said it was “to put in work, I guess,” but testified that he didn’t know what type of work was needed.

“What happened after you met up?” Deputy Prosecutor Lucas Downer asked.

“Someone died, I guess,” Barajas said.

But when questioned by Pedroza-DeSantiago’s lawyer, Barajas appeared to have a better memory of the events surrounding Melgoza’s gang killing and the teen’s later interviews with police and the defense.

Attorney Norma Rodriguez has told jurors in her client’s trial that Barajas, and not Pedroza-DeSantiago, was responsible for the fatal shooting because he is bipolar and has anger issues.

“When you talked to law enforcement, they told you that you would be looking at 20-25 years, is that correct?” Rodriguez said, with Barajas answering “yes.”

Did serving that long of time in prison scare the teen?

“It would scare anybody,” Barajas said.

Barajas didn’t go to prison. Instead, he is in a Juvenile Rehabilitation youth camp on the west side.

After his own case repeatedly was postponed over two years while waiting for Pedroza-DeSantiago’s trial to start, Barajas entered a guilty plea July 6 in Franklin County Juvenile Court.

He initially was charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and faced the possibility of being tried as an adult even though he was 15 when Melgoza was killed.

In the plea deal, which included the agreement to testify, Barajas admitted first-degree assault and first-degree rendering criminal assistance. His sentencing range is almost four years to four years and eight months — a deal that will have him released by his 21st birthday.

Pedroza-DeSantiago is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

A Mexican Pride Sureño, he exchanged words with Melgoza, who was a Norteño, in front of Fiesta Foods. Pedroza-DeSantiago then enlisted the help of Barajas, and the two returned to the parking lot to confront Melgoza.

The defense says Pedroza-DeSantiago was only there to fight the red-attired Melgoza, and that he was surprised when Barajas fired several shots.

Prosecutors say Pedroza-DeSantiago fired the gun after briefly arguing with Barajas about who would do it.

On Tuesday, court officers made sure to keep a good distance between Barajas and Pedroza-DeSantiago as they entered and exited the courtroom.

Even Judge Alex Ekstrom, because of Barajas’ custody status, used a different door to get on the bench so he wouldn’t have to walk behind the teen on the witness stand.

Barajas, whose answers often couldn’t be heard by the court reporter seated right in front of him, was told a number of times to speak louder and into the microphone.

The teen said he no longer considers himself a member of the MPS gang, but couldn’t say why.

He reportedly was drinking and smoking pot when he got a message from Pedroza-DeSantiago to meet him at a store near Fiesta Foods in February 2015.

“We had a confrontation. Nothing happened. We went around Fiesta Foods and he pulled out a gun and said I was going to shoot him, and then shot him and ran,” Barajas told the prosecutor.

“And who shot (Melgoza)?” Downer asked.

Barajas replied, “Chris.”

Barajas said he told police he was the shooter because he “was in a hurry” and knew that he would get less time if convicted as a juvenile. He also testified that he was concerned for his family’s safety if he told the truth and put the blame for the shooting on Pedroza-DeSantiago.

Rodriguez questioned if Barajas was pressured by detectives to name Pedroza-DeSantiago, even after the teen had admitted in the interview that he’d made a mistake and killed Melgoza. She pointed out that Barajas gave specifics about how many shots were fired, the gun used and the fact he easily could buy one off the streets.

“You said (detectives) didn’t believe you because you continued to say you were the shooter and they wanted another story,” Rodriguez said. So “you gave them another story?”

“Yeah, the truth,” Barajas said.

Downer followed the defense questioning, asking Barajas what is the truth.

“That I didn’t do anything,” said the teen, adding that it was Pedroza-DeSantiago who “shot someone.”

Rodriguez pushed back again, questioning if Barajas believed his case would come back to court and he’d be looking at prison time if he admitted on the stand that he shot Melgoza.

“Do you think that (reduced charge) plea is going to be withdrawn? Is that what you were told? the defense attorney asked.

Barajas’ response: “I think so, yeah.”

This story was originally published August 22, 2017 at 7:33 PM with the headline "Pasco teen testifies in murder trial, has difficulty remembering shooting."