SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) -- The preliminary hearing for an alleged gang member accused in the fatal shootings last year of three members of a San Francisco family continued Thursday morning in San Francisco Superior Court with testimony from a man injured in a separate shooting that occurred hours earlier.
Defendant Edwin Ramos, 22, is accused of shooting and killing Tony Bologna, 48, and his sons Michael, 20, and Matthew, 16, on June 22, 2008, in the city's Excelsior District.
The prosecution is attempting to build the case that the killings were retaliation for a shooting earlier that day that injured Marvin Medina.
Prosecutors have repeatedly questioned Medina about whether he had any relationship with suspected MS-13 gang members, including Ramos. But Medina has denied knowing Ramos, an El Sobrante resident, or any other suspects.
In exchange for his testimony, Medina, of Richmond, has been given immunity from prosecution in connection with the shooting in which he was injured.
Medina was asked in court this morning why he was driving around the Mission for two hours that day before he was shot, but could not give a concrete answer.
"I was just driving around," he said. He denied remembering any of the several people he called both before and after being shot, except his girlfriend at the time, a woman he called Jennifer. He said he had been dating and living with Jennifer for about six months in 2008.
Medina testified two days ago that he couldn't remember Jennifer’s last name.
Medina said that as he drove around the Mission on June 22, he was followed by men in two cars. Medina said he crashed into another car and stopped, and that one of the cars then pulled up beside him and multiple gunmen opened fire, he said.
He was shot three times in the leg and buttocks while diving into the back seat of the car. When the shooting stopped, he said, he drove to a nearby gas station.
Medina could not account for why he failed to call 911 but called several other people.
Ramos' preliminary hearing in San Francisco Superior Court is scheduled to last at least a week, after which the judge will determine if there is probable cause to hold Ramos for trial on the charges.
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