Murder charges dropped against Menlo Park man Murder charges dropped against Menlo Park man (March 03, 2004)

By Jonas Raab

Special to the Almanac

Dontae McCoy Hurd, 19, of Menlo Park was released from county jail February 23 after serving eight months behind bars in connection with the death of a pregnant woman, Lisa Hernandez, and the shooting of her boyfriend, Armondo Valencia.

San Mateo County prosecutors said they dropped all charges against Mr. Hurd due to unreliable eyewitness accounts.

Mr. Hurd was arrested June 24, 2003, in Belle Haven and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. The incident occurred three days before, when Ms. Hernandez and Mr. Valencia were parked outside the One Stop Market in the 1400 block of East Bayshore Road in East Palo Alto.

Police said a man shot Lisa Hernandez in the neck and Armondo Valencia in the leg at around 10 p.m. and fled the scene.

Ms. Hernandez, 19, was pronounced dead at an area hospital; Mr. Valencia, 22, made a full recovery.

Assistant District Attorney Martin Murray told the Almanac that eyewitness accounts varied so much that prosecutors do not have enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Hurd was the shooter.

The investigation is not closed, however. "The Sheriffs Office is still vigorously investigating the incident," Mr. Murray said.

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