What’s next for Fresno man who sought woman’s affection, then nearly killed her baby
Marcos Echartea, the Fresno man charged with shooting into a car and hitting a 10-month-old baby in the head, was found guilty of attempted murder Wednesday.
Fresno County Superior Court Judge Jonathan Conklin also found the 27-year-old Echartea guilty of shooting into an occupied vehicle, three counts of assault with a firearm and possessing a firearm while under a restraining order.
Police said Echartea was angry with the baby’s mother after she rejected his flirtatious advances. They were among several others attending a friend’s party in the 3600 block of East Hammond Avenue in June 2019.
Irritated by Echartea’s flirting, the baby’s mother, then 18-year-old Deziree Menagh, left the party in a friend’s car. As they were driving away, Echartea caught up with them on foot and fired three shots, hitting the car twice and baby Fayth Percy once in the head.
During the trial, prosecutor Jenny Volanti played the 911 call from the mother’s friend just after the baby was shot.
“Just keep praying, just keep praying,” the male caller can be heard frantically talking to the baby’s mother.
The baby survived the bullet wound after spending 26 days in the hospital with a traumatic brain injury.
Echartea’s attorney Jane Boulger argued that her client was intoxicated that night and did not have a specific intention to kill the baby.
Prosecutor Jenny Volanti said during her closing statements that Echartea knew what he was doing when he pointed his weapon at the car.
Volanti said Menagh rebuffed Echartea twice that night causing him to become angry. He got even angrier when he discovered Menagh’s friend was Black, Volanti said.
“You going to pick a Black guy over me,” Echartea was overheard saying the night of the shooting, Volanti said.
It was clear, the prosecutor said, that Echartea wanted to get revenge.
“He sought out that car and when he found it he tried to kill all three of them,” Volanti said.
Echartea’s sentencing is set for July 7. He faces a maximum of life in prison.
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This story was originally published June 7, 2023 at 3:59 PM.
