OAKLAND, CA - MAY13: The Alameda County Superior Courthouse is seen in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, May 13, 2021. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND — An Antioch man will serve 18 years in state prison after pleading no contest to manslaughter in a plea deal stemming from a 2017 homicide, court records show.
Vernon Dunbar Jr., 36, pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and related charges in the Dec. 10, 2017 killing of 41-year-old George Vargas. Police alleged that Dunbar fatally shot Vargas in the Foothill Square Shopping Center, 10700 MacArthur Blvd.
Vargas and Dunbar were in separate cars and appeared to be arguing just before the shooting, police said. During the preliminary hearing, Vargas’ cousin testified that she was in the car with Vargas when he was shot. She testified both men exited their car as the argument escalated and that the other driver produced a pistol and shot him. She later identified Dunbar as the suspect from a police photo lineup.
She testified the incident was the worst memory of her life and that she will never forget the smell of gunpowder from that day. She said after Vargas was shot she did her best to keep him alive while paramedics came to the area.
“I’m trying to get his focus on me just to keep him with me,” she testified. “And I am trying — I want to touch him, I want to hold him, I want to stop the blood, but I don’t want to hurt him, I am scared to touch him.”
Police said at the time Dunbar and Vargas did not know each other. Vargas’ cousin testified the argument started because Vargas drove close to Dunbar’s vehicle while navigating around a speed bump in the parking lot.
As part of the sentencing, a superior court judge is recommending Dunbar receive mental health treatment in the state prison system, court records show.
Dunbar agreed to the plea deal last month. He was formally sentenced Nov. 3, court records show.
Originally published at Nate Gartrell