DA calls shooting execution-style killing

Erica D. Johnson

Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2002 | 9:02 a.m.

A man murdered his friend execution-style even though the two had been close most of their lives, prosecutors said in opening statements Monday at the trial in a shooting at Western High School.

Rex Adams, 21, faces three felony charges, including murder with a deadly weapon, in the July 4 death of Hershell "Bobby" Pacheco, 23.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Frank Coumou told jurors Adams shot Pacheco in the back of the head and the torso on the high school's soccer field after the two men left a party at a neighbor's house.

"The victim had been friends with the defendant since the sixth grade," Coumou told jurors. "He was murdered execution-style. The facts will reveal that the person who murdered him was the defendant, the man who claimed to be his friend."

Fence workers discovered Pacheco's body on the field a few hours later, Coumou said. Police said they found Adams sleeping on his mother's couch with a .45-caliber weapon lying nearby.

Even before the shooting, Coumou said, Adams tried to impress people at the party by firing a .45-caliber handgun into the air and in the direction of the school.

Coumou said bullet casings were found around the neighborhood and one bullet was lodged in the ground directly underneath Pacheco's head.

But Defense Attorney Brett Whipple said his client was forced in self-defense to shoot Pacheco, an alleged gang member and ex-felon who did prison time for grand larceny auto and attempted battery.

The two men were taking turns firing the gun at the soccer field, Whipple said. He said Pacheco became angry when Adams joked that Pacheco "fired like a girl."

Pacheco had pointed guns at people in the past when he was angry and his temper worsened after his stint in prison, Whipple said.

"At some point Rex pushed Bobby over the edge," Whipple said. "Bobby got frustrated and, like he'd done to other people before, he pointed the gun at Rex. Rex had to make a choice to defend himself against his friend."

Priscilla Lucero, 17, who also attended the party, heard about 20 gunshots coming from the soccer field after Pacheco and Adams left, she testified.

"Rex said 'Let's do a gun show really quick' and Bobby said OK," she said. "We said we wanted to go home so he told us to just listen."

Lucero said she wasn't aware of any serious animosity between the two men.