All three suspects in June 9th drive-by shooting in northwest Austin plead not guilty to all charges in Mower County District Court
All three suspects in a June 9th drive-by shooting in northwest Austin that killed an Austin man and wounded two others are pleading not guilty in Mower County District Court.
28-year old Cham Obang Oman and 23-year old Manamany Omot Abella, both of Austin have both been charged with felonies for 2nd degree murder, with intent, not premeditated, 2nd degree murder, drive-by shooting, 2nd degree attempted murder, with intent, not premeditated, 2nd degree attempted murder, drive-by shooting, and drive-by shooting towards a person. A third suspect in the case, 18-year old Jenup Stepen Chop of Austin has been charged with the identical five felonies as Oman and Abella. Court documents in the case stated that a vehicle containing Abella, Oman and Chop allegedly pulled up next to a vehicle containing the three victims late on the evening of June 9th, and one or more of the suspects then allegedly fired shots at the victims, killing 25-year old Gumdel Nygare Gilo of Austin, and wounding two others.
Both Oman and Abella pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against them during court appearances on June 26th, and during motion hearings for both suspects Tuesday, Judge Natalie Martinez ordered that both be held on record. Judge Martinez previously set bail with conditions for Oman at $500,000, and at $1 million with no conditions, and she set bail with conditions for Abella at $750,000, and at $1 million with no conditions. During a July 14th court appearance, Chop also pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him, and Judge Martinez set bail with conditions for Chop at $750,000, and at $1 million with no conditions.
Both Oman and Abella are scheduled for pretrial hearings in Mower County District Court on September 1st, with jury trials for both scheduled for September 11th. A pretrial hearing for Chop in Mower County District Court has been scheduled for January 4th, 2024, with a jury trial scheduled for January 16th.
