Oakland man takes 15 years in 2018 fatal shooting

OAKLAND — A Bay Area man accepted a manslaughter conviction and a 15-year prison term as part of a plea deal with Alameda County prosecutors that dismissed a murder charge against him, court records show.

Julio Rodriguez, 39, pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in the April 15, 2018 shooting death of 25-year-old Daniel Cordova. Rodriguez’s co-defendant, Jesus Leon, took a three-year sentence to settle an accessory charge against him in 2019.

Prosecutors say Rodriguez fatally shot Cordova during a dispute at a house party in the 2700 block of E. 10th Street. Both men lived in the area. Rodriguez allegedly refused to shake Cordova’s hand and asked him about a money dispute, to which Cordova allegedly responded, “Here if you want some money, I’ll give you some (expletive) money,” and threw several hundred dollars at Rodriguez.

Later in the evening, Rodriguez allegedly shot at Cordova’s brother, but missed. When Cordova found out about what happened, he challenged Rodriguez to a fight, but Rodriguez pulled a gun instead. Cordova told him, “Put down the gun and fight me” just before Rodriguez shot him, stood over his body and continued to fire, according to prosecutors.

Rodriguez was formally sentenced on July 27, a month after accepting the deal, according to court records. His prison sentence includes the days he’s served in county jail since the 2018 arrest.