Trial for murder suspect slated to begin Monday
Local man accused of first degree murder in 2006 shooting
By Argus Observer staff reports
Sunday, April 20, 2008 1:46 PM PDT
Fruitland - A jury trial for Hector Almaraz Jr., Nyssa, accused of first degree murder in the shooting death of Gabriel Flores, Ontario, April 23, 2006, at Club 7 in Fruitland is slated to begin at 9 a.m. Monday at Payette County Courthouse.
Capt. J.D. Huff, Fruitland Police Department, said a jury has been selected, and the trial is moving forward.
Almaraz, 26, is accused of killing Flores, who was 28 at the time, in the shooting that occurred at about 2 a.m. at the popular club in downtown Fruitland. Huff did not state for certain whether the shooting was gang related.
“I would tell you that there are certainly implications that it could have been gang related,” he said.
Since the shooting, Huff said Club 7 owner Tom Overstreet has made some security adjustments at the establishment to make it safer for patrons.
“He’s doing the best he can, I think, under the circumstances,” Huff said.
