A man accused in the shooting death of an off-duty bus driver in Kensington more eight years ago pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a murder charge.
Santiago Covarrubias, 40, was ordered held without bail. He faces 50 years to life in prison if convicted.
Covarrubias had been serving a state prison sentence for an unrelated homicide when he was re-arrested last week in connection with the March 20, 2007, murder of 38-year-old Damon Green. Police said newly discovered evidence led them to Covarrubias, but did not say what that evidence was.
Covarrubias is the second man to be arrested in Green’s death. Martin Villalpando was arrested July 28 as he entered the United States from Mexico at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
San Diego police said Green was involved in an argument with another man at a taco shop on El Cajon Boulevard. That man and a cohort left, but returned about 10 minutes later.
Green and his companion left the eatery and were confronted by the pair. Following another hostile exchange with Green about 2:30 a.m., one suspect pulled a gun and shot him.
The victim ran off and tried to take refuge at a nearby doughnut shop, but the assailant fired through the front plate-glass window, mortally wounding him, according to police.
Covarrubias will be back in court Dec. 8 for a status conference. A preliminary hearing was tentatively set for Dec. 14.
— City News Service
