Murder charge filed in Atwater homicide case

Murder and assault charges were filed Tuesday against a man accused of killing another man during an alcohol-fueled house party last week in Atwater.

Juan Jose Avina-Meza, 40, is accused of killing 36-year-old Juan Guizar Villano of Turlock on Thursday at a home on High Street in Atwater. Avina-Meza is also accused of stabbing another man in the leg. The second victim’s identity has not been released.

Merced County prosecutors on Tuesday formally charged Avina-Meza with murder and felony assault, Chief Deputy District Attorney Rob Carroll confirmed.

Carroll declined to comment on details of the case, citing a need to protect the integrity of the court process.

Atwater police have also declined to comment on the details surrounding the violence last week. Lt. Samuel Joseph has said the incident began during a large house party and said investigators believe alcohol was a factor in the violence.

Avina-Meza surrendered to Atwater police late Thursday, after detectives named him as a suspect.

Villano’s death marked the second homicide of the year in Atwater. Merced County has reported 17 violent deaths so far in 2015.

This story was originally published July 28, 2015 at 6:12 PM with the headline "Murder charge filed in Atwater homicide case."