Santa Rosa Man Pleads No Contest In Manslaughter Charge

SANTA ROSA - A Santa Rosa man pleaded no contest Thursday to the voluntary manslaughter of his friend 12 years ago.

Ruben Manuel Muniz, 37, faced a preliminary hearing Tuesday for the murder of Danny Christian Garcia, 30, on Dec. 13, 2003.

Muniz and Garcia got into an argument while they were drinking and driving around Santa Rosa.

Both men got of out the car and continued arguing at West 3rd Street and Malibu Circle, according to the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office.

Muniz shot Garcia in the head at close range with a short barrel shotgun and drove from the scene leaving Garcia behind.

Forensic tests and witnesses' statements led to the identity of Muniz as the suspect, and he was arrested in a state prison on April 21, 2015.

In return for his plea that also includes use of a gun, Muniz will be sentenced to nine years in prison on June 30, the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office said.

-Bay City News, image via ShutterStock