Murder charges dismissed against 1 defendant in shooting death of toddler on I-880 in Oakland
FREMONT, Calif. (KGO) -- There was a major ruling Wednesday in the Jasper Wu case after a preliminary hearing that took 13 days.
EXCLUSIVE: Jasper Wu's family voices concerns over murder suspects' possible shorter sentences
Murder charges have been dismissed against one of three defendants accused of killing the 1-year-old in November 2021 during a rolling gun battle on Interstate 880 in Oakland.
Annie Beles, defense attorney for 28-year-old Johnny Jackson of Richmond, told the I-Team, "We are so pleased that Judge Patton made the correct legal ruling that Johnny Jackson was not the cause of the child's death. Mr. Jackson was a victim of an unprovoked ambush not a perpetrator. All the facts supported Jackson shooting a gun in self-defense."
RELATED: Jasper Wu case timeline: A 13-month investigation into Oakland freeway shooting death of toddler
Beles also explained that Jackson fired his gun away from the direction of the Wu family's vehicle. Jackson is still being held on felony gun charges.
The judge also ruled there is enough evidence to tie 22-year-old Trevor Green of Richmond and 24-year-old Ivory Bivins of Vallejo to the death of Jasper Wu, and that both men should be tried on murder and gang charges.
The attorney for Jasper Wu's parents, Norbert Chu, released the following statement: "While the family would have preferred that all 3 of the initially charged defendants be ordered to stand trial, they are most focused on the 2 defendants directly responsible for their son's death and are pleased that as to those 2 defendants all the charges and enhancements, which include the special circumstances that would make them eligible for a sentence of LWOP, have been ordered to stand trial on all those charges and enhancements."
VIDEO: EXCLUSIVE: Jasper Wu's family, friend speak about arrests made in 23-month-old's murder
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