Marco Puga, a 24-year-old Latino, was tragically shot and killed on June 14, 2015, at the corner of 20th and Meyler Streets in San Pedro, Los Angeles. The incident began around 8 a.m. when Puga's girlfriend, who was married, dropped him off at the intersection where he had parked his car. The woman's husband had discovered the affair and was searching for Puga. Upon seeing her husband approach Puga's car, the woman drove away.
An argument ensued between the two men, during which the husband allegedly shot Puga multiple times in the upper torso. Despite his injuries, Puga managed to drive a few blocks to his home, where his family called 911. He was transported to the hospital but was pronounced dead at 10:20 a.m.
The husband, identified as Fernando Duarte, fled the scene but was later found at a hotel in Lomita. A pursuit ensued when Duarte drove away from the hotel, lasting about 20 minutes. During the chase, Duarte was on the phone with his wife, and officers were guiding her on what to say to ensure a safe resolution. The pursuit ended when Duarte drove to the LAPD’s Harbor Station parking lot and surrendered. Duarte was arrested on suspicion of murder and booked into Los Angeles County Jail with bail set at $2,075,000. He was scheduled to be arraigned on June 29, 2015, at the Long Beach courthouse for one count of murder and one count of fleeing a pursuing peace officer's motor vehicle while driving.
In the subsequent legal proceedings, Duarte was charged with first-degree murder and fleeing a pursuing peace officer's motor vehicle while driving recklessly. The case, People v. Duarte, saw Duarte raising several arguments on appeal, including claims of instructional errors and the admissibility of certain evidence. Despite these arguments, the court affirmed the conviction, and Duarte was sentenced to 50 years to life in state prison. The trial highlighted the tragic consequences of the confrontation and the legal complexities that followed.
