Daijiworld Media Network – San Diego

San Diego, Mar 21: A 70-year-old man has been charged with murder following a deadly confrontation with landscapers in Southern California, authorities said.

The accused, Michael Anthony Burke, is currently lodged at the Vista Detention Facility in San Diego County without bail. He has been booked in connection with the killing of Martin Lucas Esteban, an immigrant from Guatemala.

According to officials, the incident occurred on Monday evening in Fallbrook, a community located about 100 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Esteban had been working at a property when an argument reportedly broke out around 8 pm, leading to the shooting.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Office said one person was killed while another sustained a gunshot injury and has since been discharged from hospital.

Burke has been charged with murder, attempted murder, and shooting into an inhabited vehicle. Each charge carries a potential sentence of 25 years to life if convicted. He pleaded not guilty during a court hearing on Thursday.

Investigators are examining cellphone video footage of the incident, which reportedly shows a man holding a shotgun and threatening individuals inside a pickup truck before a struggle ensued and the weapon discharged.

Authorities said the circumstances leading up to the confrontation are still under investigation. San Diego County Sheriff’s Lt. Juan Marquez confirmed that the video has been reviewed by investigators and prosecutors.

The property owner, Alan Hsu, said Burke worked as a caretaker on an adjacent property and described him as having an “angry demeanor.”

Meanwhile, the victim’s daughter, Martina Lucas, expressed grief over her father’s death, stating that he had gone to the location to assist a friend with landscaping work.

Police said the homicide unit is continuing its investigation as more details are awaited.