> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Padraza dodges murder charges - URL: https://www.smdp.com/padraza-dodges-murder-charges/ - Published: 2005-08-27T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T07:37:35.000Z - Author: Ryan Hyatt - Tags: Crime, Santa Monica Airport, #archive-import *Manslaughter conviction could equal 11 years in jail* AIRPORT COURTHOUSE — The Santa Monica bar owner accused of killing a patron he shot to death more than 20 years ago has been found not guilty of murder. Jurors deliberating for nearly 15 hours decided on Wednesday that Antonio Pedraza was not guilty for the first-degree murder of Javier Garcia, 25, on June 21, 1984\. Garcia was shot multiple times in front of the Jalisco Cafe, a now-defunct bar once located at 1811 Olympic Blvd. However, Pedraza, 58, still faces up to 11 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter, a lesser offense the jury said he committed on Wednesday. Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner is expected to sentence Pedraza on Sept. 29. The fatal shooting occurred late at night, after an intoxicated Garcia was kicked out of the bar for throwing beer bottles on the floor, according to witnesses and police. Garcia waited outside until Pedraza confronted him from the front side of the building. Garcia was killed in the ensuing shoot-out. Garcia suffered a total of 14 gunshot wounds from 11 bullets — with some of the gunshots entering and exiting multiple parts of his body, police said. Pedraza was never questioned by police at the time of the shooting. He fled the scene and abandoned his bar, wife and three kids. He was on the lam for 19 years before being arrested in Los Angeles in July of 2003 on drug charges. He allegedly sold narcotics out of a bar parking lot where he worked, according to police. Shortly after the shooting, police found Pedraza’s tan Ford pick-up truck abandoned in Santa Monica. According to his testimony, Pedraza went to Mexico. He returned to the United States 10 years later and lived here under a different name until his arrest. Mojgan Aghai, Pedraza’s public defender, said she believes the jury made a wise decision in finding Pedraza not guilty of murder. “This case was a classic example of someone exercising his legal right to self-defense, and a prosecutor attempting to overtake that right,” Aghai said. “If this were a policeman who shot someone in a similar situation, do you think (the D.A.’s office) would prosecute, like it did with Pedraza? “The police get the benefit of the doubt, but citizens don’t.” Larry Droeger, the deputy district attorney assigned to the case, wasn’t available for comment. Sandi Gibbons, D.A. spokeswoman, said her office prosecuted on grounds they felt they had a case. “We believe the evidence shows the defendant was guilty of murder, but that’s why we have the system in place,” Gibbons said. “The jury decides.” Jurors deliberating on the case weren’t available for comment. WEIGHING THE FACTS Pedraza said it was common for customers to bring guns and shoot them inside and outside his bar. On the night of the shoot-out with Garcia, Pedraza was without a security guard because that man had been shot at the bar in an unrelated incident a few weeks before. For protection, Pedraza was wearing a bullet-proof vest and was armed with a can of mace and a.38 semi-automatic pistol tucked in his waist. Garcia and his brother, Ramon, entered the bar, and were served. Garcia, who appeared angry, took his beer to the pool table and proceeded to smash his and other customers’ beer bottles against the floor, Pedraza testified. Pedraza asked Garcia to leave, calling him a huero, which is a slang word for “blondie” or “light-skinned.” Garcia was Hispanic. A struggle ensued. Pedraza maced Garcia and escorted him out of the bar. Garcia threatened Pedraza. He returned near the entrance of the bar a few minutes afterward and pointed a gun at Pedraza, who he could see through the doorway. Pedraza walked toward the back door of the bar. He heard a revving car take off and thought Garcia had left, he testified. Pedraza walked along the side of the building toward the front of the bar. Pedraza took a step on the sidewalk and spotted Garcia, who was near a tree on the opposite side of the bar’s facade. Pedraza warned “blondie” that he didn’t want to kill him and that he should go home. Garcia proceeded to fire, charging Pedraza. Pedraza took a bullet to the chest, which was protected by his vest. Pedraza took cover behind the corner of the building, while Garcia was exposed on the sidewalk. They fired at each other repeatedly. Garcia fell to his knees, and Pedraza continued shooting until Garcia fell face first in the street. Pedraza walked up to Garcia and shot three more rounds in the back of his head. During the trial, Droeger argued the final shots proved the case was an act of murder. He noted that Pedraza failed to lock the front door of the bar when Garcia first pointed the gun at him. Pedraza also failed to notify police once he felt threatened Garcia might kill him. Pedraza said he acted the way he did because he was fearful for his life and leaving his children orphaned. Aghai agreed with her client. “He gave Garcia the opportunity to go home, and he didn’t,” Agahi said. “Instead, he started shooting. “If someone is shooting at you and you can’t shoot back, what is the ‘right to self-defense’ supposed to mean?” > “If someone is shooting at you and you can’t shoot back, what is the ‘right to self-defense’ supposed to mean?” — MOJGAN AGHAI Pedraza’s attorney *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 27, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/082705.pdf?ref=smdp.com)