REDWOOD CITY (Map, News) - More than two years after half a dozen patrons were shot in a crowded Redwood City bar, the two alleged gunmen will face a jury trial.

The special circumstances murder trial for 28-year-old Rolando Fernandez, of San Jose, and 20-year-old Domingo Naranjo, of Redwood City, will begin Wednesday, a judge ruled Monday. Prosecutors will not seek the death penalty.

It is a decision that can’t come too soon for the families of the three men who perished in the April 15, 2006, attack on Headquarters Bar, Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

“For the victims’ families awaiting trial, the clock and the calendar stop. They just need closure on it,” he said.

Prosecutors believe Fernandez and Naranjo were part of opposing groups of men who got into an argument that escalated into a gun battle. The two men allegedly began shooting from different sides of the bar. When the bullets stopped flying, three men were dead and another three injured.

Killed in the early morning fracas was Redwood City resident Humberto Calderon Jr., who was celebrating his 18th birthday at the Second Street tavern. Hemerenciano Mendoz, 38, of East Palo Alto, and Jesus Hernandez, 28, of Redwood City, also died.

Both the prosecution and defense agree on one point — that the case will be difficult. The chaos and panic that ensued in the bar will be a factor in the testimony of some witnesses, and alcohol has impaired the memories of others.

A Headquarters waitress will be an important witness for the prosecution, Wagstaffe said. The three men who were injured, including one whose thumb was shot off, are also expected to testify.

Defense attorney Lee Davis, who is representing Fernandez, said some of the witnesses in the case have gang ties. His client, who worked in real estate, is not affiliated with any gang, he said.

Though prosecutors believe an argument about who was tougher led to the shooting, Davis said he still isn’t sure what preceded the carnage.

“I don’t know and I don’t think we ever will. You talk to four different people and get five different explanations,” he said.

tbarak@examiner.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

5:06 PM MST on Mon., May. 12, 2008 re: "Ex-officer offered deal in alleged scam case"

Examiner Reader said:
Makes you wonder what else have these men have robbed.. The teenager was probally cond by these men. The courts should really look into them and see what else they can find if they did it to this store there must be much more. Don't you think so?

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12:51 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 9, 2008 re: "Ex-officer offered deal in alleged scam case"

Examiner Reader said:
What about the people sitting in prison now that might be innocent?

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4:35 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 8, 2008 re: "Ex-officer offered deal in alleged scam case"

Rachel Hernandez said:
One thing about dishonest people. They are eventually caught. In this case, the corrupt cop was discovered along with his criminal friends. What do they say? Birds of a feather flock together. Criminals hang out with criminals... they are easy to spot.

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8:16 AM MST on Mon., Apr. 7, 2008 re: "Woman going to prison for embezzling $1.4 million"

Examiner Reader said:
I wonder if all that stuff from her shopping sprees and whatnot was really worth it to her now? I don't think she can take it with her to Federal Prison. And who the heck is going to hire this woman once she is released? How on earth is she ever going to pay back the money plus restitution? It's amazing what some people think they can get away with. I think that someone (perhaps a generous designer) should donate the most hideous garb they can possibly come up with and she should be required to wear the clothing/outfits the entire time she is in prison.

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12:29 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 1, 2008 re: "Woman going to prison for embezzling $1.4 million"

Examiner Reader said:
Sorry Sister, Louis Vuitton does not make prison garb. What a skank!

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5:22 PM MST on Mon., Mar. 3, 2008 re: "Lawyer says Ed Jew victim of conspiracy"

Examiner Reader said:
You cannot turn in a criminal if you set up your sting and say I'm calling you out. What a farce! If you think he did something wrong, you go through the proper channels. If anyone with an ounce of common sense believes that, I have a bridge for sale too. Yee, Mak, Gruel, Jew should all share the same jail cell.

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1:07 PM MST on Mon., Feb. 25, 2008 re: "Run over girlfriend, get two-year term"

Examiner Reader said:
My son gets stabbed thru the heart in ssf his attacker gets 13 months my son will never be the same , This person got more time.Must of had a horrible lawyer .The lawyer should of taken the judge golfing she would of ended up with a few hours behind bars.There is no justice in San Mateo

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5:56 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 20, 2008 re: "Lawyer says Ed Jew victim of conspiracy"

Examiner Reader said:
Lawyers don't commit the crimes - criminals commit the crimes. Without criminals there would be no lawyers.

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5:35 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 20, 2008 re: "Lawyer says Ed Jew victim of conspiracy"

Examiner Reader said:
Our parents used to suggest to their children to "be a lawyer." Everyone we knew was saying the same thing. Now, I took an informal poll the other day and asked if sentiments were the same for our children and grandchildren. "NO!" was the answer. Interesting, isn't it? The sleazy have overwhelmed the occupation so much that nobody has any respect for them any more. They're viewed as liars and troublemakers out for ego and money.

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5:17 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 20, 2008 re: "Lawyer says Ed Jew victim of conspiracy"

Examiner Reader said:
Yee tuned in a criminal to the authorities - why blame him? Why not blame the criminal? Ed Jew commited the crimes, not Yee. Jew's gonna look real cute in that orange jumpsuit.

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5:12 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 20, 2008 re: "Lawyer says Ed Jew victim of conspiracy"

Examiner Reader said:
Jew's attorney is grasping at straws. No one made Jew take the dirty money except Jew himself, (and maybe his greedy wife). Gruel was brought in to clean up his mess, and now he's trying to blame the guy who helped him the most. First Fazio, then Gruel. Next he'll turn on Hanlon because he refuses to accept responsibility for his crimes.

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5:11 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 20, 2008 re: "Lawyer says Ed Jew victim of conspiracy"

Barton said:
wow, and to think i trusted yee and mak to be standup folks. no more.

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3:59 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 20, 2008 re: "Lawyer says Ed Jew victim of conspiracy"

Seven said:
I don't put anything past Yee and Mak. We don't need or want Chinatown corruption in the sleepy Sunset. At least Carmen Chu seems uncorrupted. Chu is exactly what District 4 needed to heal from the Jew mess. It's one of the few things I thank Newsom for doing.

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1:43 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 20, 2008 re: "Lawyer says Ed Jew victim of conspiracy"

Examiner Reader said:
To blame everyone but yourself is the American way. That's why Ledger died because it is the fault of the industry. That's why we can all do bad things. It is not our fault, it is someone else.

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11:23 AM MST on Wed., Feb. 20, 2008 re: "Lawyer says Ed Jew victim of conspiracy"

Examiner Reader said:
justice is seeing mak, yee, gruel (who should be de-barred) trade their clothes for prison clothes. mak you lost the supe race...get OVER it! yee and gruel...payback is going to be a bxxch for you both!

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10:13 AM MST on Wed., Feb. 20, 2008 re: "Lawyer says Ed Jew victim of conspiracy"

Examiner Reader said:
Why does Ed Jew blame everyone else but himself?

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6:43 AM MST on Thu., Feb. 7, 2008 re: "City is stuck with bill for legal fees"

L. Amiot said:
Justice must be sought at any and all costs. Justice is not abitrary, but is based on facts and rules of law. If it costs tax money to get justice for Sgt. John V. Young, and the rest of us in San Francisco, consider that a good investment in the safety of our city. Why would anyone complain that it costs money to prosecute murderers?

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5:20 AM MST on Thu., Feb. 7, 2008 re: "City is stuck with bill for legal fees"

Examiner Reader said:
This was one of the worst crimes in SF history. It was simply a cold blooded murder of a good police sergeant. It was premeditated in that the perpetrators were going to kill anyone who was there. I've always thought that it was related to the ambush of Officer Richard Radetich which occured around the same time. That stated, there must be a trial and the defendants must have attorneys so pay their attorneys and get on with it. The "conflict of interest" aspect interests me: are some innocent?

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8:07 AM MST on Wed., Nov. 28, 2007 re: "Mistrial declared in 18-year-old cold case"

Examiner Reader said:
Hope you have kids you don't watch after. Go drop them off in the neighborhood, let's see what happens.

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6:09 PM MST on Tue., Nov. 27, 2007 re: "Mistrial declared in 18-year-old cold case"

Examiner Reader said:
Nice to know that Kiddies can get away with Murder and victims families won't get any justice. Justice??? WHAT'S THAT?????

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