FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — 46-year-old Michael Jacintho faced a Fresno County judge on Tuesday during his preliminary hearing.
Jacintho is accused of shooting and killing 43-year-old Sevastion Prado on June 19. Prosecutors say Prado is the ex-boyfriend of Jacintho’s wife.
A key witness, Jacintho’s stepson, took the stand. Action News was told not to show his face for privacy reasons.
The witness told the court he went with Jacintho to Prado’s house to get his mom, but she didn’t want to go home with them.
The witness says Jacintho was mad at his wife because she was visiting Prado.
After dropping off his stepson at their home, prosecutors believe Jacintho went back to Prado’s house. That’s when officers say Jacintho opened fire, shooting Prado.
Authorities believe Jacintho carried out the attack in front of his wife.
“She heard what she describes as a gunshot. Once she heard that, she assumed that Prado got shot, so she got in front of Prado to prevent him from getting shot again,” Zafer Babayigit with the Fresno Police Department said.
Officers say Jacintho’s wife was visibly upset after the shooting, making it difficult to collect information.
“I observed the victim laying next to the bed that was in the room unresponsive,” Ralph Guerra with the Fresno Police Department said.
The defense is suggesting a different theory.
“How did you make the determination that Miss Burcher is absolutely not a suspect in this case,” Jacintho’s defense attorney questioned.
The judge has found enough evidence for Jacintho to face trial for the murder of Sevation Prade.
A date has not yet been set.
