Richard Watkins, a 24-year-old resident of San Jose, California, tragically lost his life on September 27, 2014. Watkins, a devoted father of two young daughters with a son on the way, was fatally shot while standing on Azucar Avenue in South San Jose. He was outside his home, helping his brother-in-law, Ricky Robello, find a parking spot for a family gathering. The event was meant to celebrate the life of Robello’s terminally ill grandmother.
Unfortunately, the situation took a deadly turn when Watkins was shot through the heart by gang members who mistakenly believed Robello was a threat.
The perpetrators, Ernest Jordan and Robert Orosco, were drinking and using drugs in front of the house where the family gathering was taking place. They misinterpreted Robello’s slow driving as a sign that he was about to attack them. In a tragic case of mistaken identity, they opened fire. Jordan fired the fatal shot that killed Watkins. Both Jordan and Orosco were later convicted of first-degree murder with special circumstances, including lying in wait and shooting at an occupied vehicle. These charges, along with gang and gun enhancements, mean they will likely spend the rest of their lives in prison without the possibility of parole.
The trial revealed that neither Watkins nor Robello had any gang affiliations. Deputy District Attorney Rob Baker successfully argued that Jordan, Orosco, and another accomplice, Alexander Marquez, had hidden behind cars and trees to ambush Robello, mistakenly thinking he was a rival gang member. Marquez threw a brick at Robello’s car, and Orosco fired two shots that missed. Jordan then fired three shots, one of which struck and killed Watkins.
The conviction of Jordan and Orosco brought some measure of justice to Watkins’ family. His widow, Malia Watkins, expressed relief that her children, now aged 9, 8, and 4, would not have to see their father’s killers free. She reflected on the trauma of the experience but felt that justice had been served. The case highlighted the senseless violence that can arise from gang activity and the devastating impact it has on innocent families. Watkins’ death marked the 29th homicide in San Jose that year, underscoring the ongoing challenges the city faces with gang-related violence.
