After several witnesses identified a man as the gunman who shot a woman to death in Point Loma, a judge on June 26 ordered him to stand trial for murder.
Joe Bennette Conway, 43, is accused of killing Octavia Williams, 20, in the parking lot of several businesses at 4013 West Point Loma Blvd. near Groton Street around around 11:40 p.m. on Oct. 9, 2018. The area is a few blocks away from the busy Sports Arena Boulevard and Midway Drive intersection.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Amalia Meza conducted the preliminary hearing and set an arraignment for July 11. A trial date will be set then. Conway remains in jail without bail.
Witnesses testified they heard only one shot, and Williams fell to the ground, mortally wounded with a shot to the head. Witnesses said both Conway and Williams were together at Domino’s Pizza.
“They had walked in together. She asked me if she could use the bathroom,” said Damian Tellez, one of Domino’s workers.
Ryan Phlueger testified he was outside when he heard the woman saying “no, no” while she was standing near a car. Phlueger said he heard the man’s voice get louder and he appeared to be upset.
Phlueger said he heard one gun shot and the woman fell to the ground.
Phlueger identified Conway as the gunman and said he quickly got into his car and “took off.”
“I was, like, in shock. I couldn’t believe I saw (it),” said Phlueger. “There was blood coming out of her head. I had never seen that before.”
Phlueger ran into the Domino’s restaurant and asked someone to call 911.
Miguel Lopez Fernandez, a manager at Denny’s across the street, testified he heard a woman screaming “No!” He added: “I heard a gunshot that was coming across the street.”
Fernandez told Meza he saw a woman on the ground and a black man driving away. He said he called 911.
San Diego Police Detective Michael Weaver testified as the last witness. He said surveillance video tape showed Conway with a cigarette stub in his mouth and he threw it away before entering Domino’s Pizza. The stub was taken as evidence for DNA analysis.
Conway was arrested in Tempe, Ariz., three weeks later and extradited here. Conway has pleaded not guilty.