Merced County homicide defendant’s murder charge dropped. Authorities won’t say why

A murder charge has been dropped against a defendant in last year’s double homicide outside a popular food truck in Planada.

But the reasoning behind the dropped charge is unclear, as attorneys and investigators remained tight lipped about the case, due to an ongoing investigation, they said.

He is expected to be sentenced from 16 months to three years in Merced County jail during his next hearing on Jan. 24.

Pedro Lua, 27, arrived at the popular taco truck in Planada that day with Ceja-Prado, according to investigation reports. Both were gang members, authorities said.

While they were eating, two rival gang members reportedly arrived to pick up their order, reports indicate. Moments later, an argument and fistfight ensued.

Gallardo, who authorities believed wasn’t with either gang factions, and Lua were shot and killed.

Ceja-Prado was arrested months later on suspicion of killing Gallardo. The suspected shooter who killed Lua hasn’t yet been apprehended, investigators said.

But on Nov. 22, the Merced County District Attorney’s Office amended Ceja-Prado’s charges, omitting the murder charge in lieu of a felony charge of possessing a firearm as a felon. On the same day, Ceja-Prado pleaded guilty to the weapons charge.

“It’s still an open and active case,” said Deputy District Attorney Sara Rosenthal, the lead prosecutor on the case. “The state of the evidence is not something we can comment on.”



Rosenthal declined to comment whether the plea agreement struck between Ceja-Prado and prosecutors included any type of cooperation, or if it cleared Ceja-Prado from the homicide.

Ceja-Prado’s attorney, Fresno-based Nicholas Reyes, didn’t return multiple requests for comment.

The Merced County Sheriff’s Office was continuing its investigation and declined to give any updates on the case, Deputy Daryl Allen said

“I know we’re looking into other suspects,” Allen said. “But we’re not ready to release anything else because it’s still an ongoing investigation at this point,”

The deadly violence led to a march and candlelight vigil the week of the shootings, with residents calling for peace in a community that has dealt with gang violence for years.

This story was originally published December 13, 2019 at 6:00 AM.