Three men charged with murder in a weekend shooting at a Healdsburg marijuana garden pleaded not guilty Thursday at a court hearing in Santa Rosa.
The men are accused of killing Gabino Lopez Santiago, 46, during and argument Saturday or early Sunday at the garden off West Dry Creek Road.
His body was dragged from the property and dumped on Mill Creek Road.
One of the suspects, Ramon Velasco Lopez, 28, of Healdsburg, was the victim's brother-in-law. He went to the Healdsburg Police Department at about 2 a.m. Sunday to report the shooting.
Detectives believe the other two suspects, Sidonio Cruz-Santos, 35, and Agustin Zepeda-Onofre, 23, each shot Santiago, hitting him in the head and chest.
All three were arrested Sunday. On Thursday, they pleaded not guilty to murder with firearms enahcnements and illegal cultivation.
Cruz-Santos denied an additional count of witness intimidation and Lopez pleaded not guilty to being an accessory.
Their next hearing is Monday morning before Judge Gary Medvigy.
Prosecutor Anne Masterson said an investigation is ongoing.
The garden was on property adjacent to land owned by grape-grower Doug Rafanelli, where a probation search was conducted six days prior to the shooting. She said there is no evidence Rafanelli was involved or connected to the shooting.
"At this point we believe we have all the suspects in custody and charged," Masterson said.
— Paul Payne
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