Defendants Convicted for Murder in Drive-By-Shooting
DATE: May 4, 2023
CASE: Julian Brown, Anthony Smith (Case #21FE020034)
PROSECUTOR: Deputy District Attorney Megan Eixenberger, Homicide Unit
Julian Brown and Anthony Smith were convicted by a jury of first-degree murder and six counts of discharging a firearm from a vehicle. Judge Delbert Oros found true a gang enhancement and use of a firearm causing great bodily injury allegation for both Brown and Smith.
Brown and Smith are gang members. In June 2020, a birthday party was held in south Sacramento for a rival gang member with other rival gang members in attendance. During the party, a drive by shooting occurred. Joseph Almanza was killed and four others were injured. The rival gang member side fired back, with a total of five guns fired and 45 shell casings located at the scene. Surveillance video captured a vehicle near the shooting moments before the murder and captured the same vehicle with a bullet hole in the back window shortly after the shooting. That vehicle belonged to a woman in Antioch, who loaned it to Smith. Brown’s DNA was found on shell casings and other evidence placed Brown and Smith near the shooting scene at the time of the murder. One firearm was recovered six weeks after the murder on an ally gang member. That gun was not registered and matched one of the five sets of shell casings at the shooting scene.
Brown and Smith each face a maximum sentence of 92 years to life in prison. Sentencing is set for May 26, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. in Department 29 before the Honorable Delbert Oros.