By Andy Furillo
afurillo@sacbee.com
Prosecutors dismissed a murder charge today against an Oak Park man who shot another man to death in a confrontation that was captured on his home surveillance video system.
Eugene Edward Walls, 36, shot and killed Shedrick Letronn Cotton, 35, in self defense, Deputy District Attorney Rick Miller said.
"He was coming out of his home and was attacked by a couple of guys, at which point he shot (Cotton)," Miller said. "The investigation proved out it was self defense."
Walls, however, has a felony conviction on his record, and his possession of the gun and ammunition in the Nov. 14 shooting became "problematic for him," Miller said.
In a brief hearing today in Sacramento Superior Court, Walls pleaded guilty to possession of the ammunition. Judge Marjorie Koller sentenced him to 16 months in state prison.
Defense attorney Jeff Tochterman said Walls had the gun at the time of the 11:15 p.m. killing because "word on the street was that there were guys he knew from the Bay Area who were coming for him."
"He had reason to believe it was a credible threat, so luckily, he had the gun with him," Tochterman said.
Tochterman said the entire shooting was captured on a home surveillance video system that Walls had set up. The defense attorney said he was able to enhance the videotape. When he presented it to Miller, the prosecutor agreed to drop the murder charge, Tochterman said.
The defense lawyer said it was "unknown" why Cotton, a Union City resident, had come to get Walls.
"I think they might have believed my client had money or some valuable goods," Tochterman said.
Asked about the goods, Tochterman said, "No comment."
Call The Bee's Andy Furillo, (916) 321-1141.
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