Suspect in Fatal Redlands Shooting Pleads Not Guilty
Ortis, 22, faces one count of murder and two counts attempted murder with special allegations. He is charged with killing a man in front of Charlie Jewell's on Nov. 19.
Suspected gunman Randy Ortis pleaded not guilty this morning to charges that he shot and killed a man during a fight outside a downtown Redlands bar.
Ortis, 22, faces one count of murder and two counts attempted murder with special allegations of intentionally firing a firearm that caused great bodily injury and death and personally inflicting great bodily injury to two others.
Ortis entered his plea before Judge John N. Martin in San Bernardino Superior Court. He has a pre-preliminary hearing set for Dec. 7 in Dept. S21 and a preliminary hearing set for Dec. 9, according to court officials.
Redlands Police investigators said Ortis is the one who opened fire on a group of men about 1:30 a.m. in front of Charlie Jewell’s, 1 State St. in downtown Redlands following a fight Nov. 19.
Kruze Levusi Kuaea, 22, of Calimesa, was killed in the shooting. Two others were seriously injured. Both were expected to survive.
According to police, the argument broke out inside but moved outside when the men were ejected by Charlie Jewell’s employees, officials said. Police said they got the report of the disturbance and focused a city run camera, which is located across the street, on the melee.
That video, which was released to the public, shows several men being ordered out of the bar. It appears they continue to exchange angry words. Finally one man, which some media outlets have identified as Kuaea, punches another man.
From the edge of the screen, an image of a man with a gun can be seen.
Redlands and San Bernardino police departments, in cooperation with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, arrested Ortis in the 5500 block of Bonnie Street in unincorporated San Bernardino County.
A gun believed to be the murder weapon was recovered at the scene, said Carl Baker, Redlands Police public information officer.
Ortis is being held at the West Valley Detention Center without bail.
