An 18-year-old murder suspect was tried as a juvenile and sentenced to seven years in juvenile hall, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office announced.
Rienheart Asuncion was the victim of a road rage incident in San Lorenzo last year. According to the sheriff’s office, Asuncion was shot and killed by Sergio Morales-Jacquez, who was 17 at that time.
Detectives learned that Morales-Jacquez was driving a stolen vehicle when he shot Asuncion and fled the scene. They later discovered Morales-Jacquez was in custody at the Juvenile Justice Center for gun charges.
He was also a person of interest in two homicides when he was in custody. One of those incidents left a pair of Berkeley brothers dead.
After it was discovered that Morales-Jacquez could have an extensive and violent criminal history, he was petitioned to be charged as an adult. However, the petition was denied and Morales-Jacquez, now 18, was ultimately charged as a juvenile for the murder of Asuncion.
He was sentenced to seven years and will serve them in juvenile hall.
