Hearing postponed to October in death of gay rights activist

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A hearing in the killing of a gay rights activist was postponed Tuesday after defense counsel said they received new discovery the day before.

H.A. Sala, representing Fredi Rivera, said he needed more time to review the discovery. He and prosecutor Samantha Allen agreed to a new preliminary hearing date of Oct. 3 during a brief hearing Tuesday morning.

Rivera, 28, is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Daniel Landeros, 43.

On the night of Sept. 18, 2023, Landeros and a male friend were walking through Yokuts Park when a man approached and called Landeros a gay slur, according to the friend’s statement to police.

Landeros, an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, argued with the man while the friend waited near a park bench.

The friend told police he heard a single gunshot then saw Landeros stumble toward him. A dark-colored SUV sped away moments later.

Landeros was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police retrieved surveillance video identifying the suspect vehicle as a black 2006-07 Hummer H3, the documents say. They linked the vehicle to Rivera and learned he was on probation for grand theft, according to police reports. Rivera was arrested Oct. 4.

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