California: 2 men plead not guilty to killing Ethiopian immigrant

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA (Mercury News) — Two San Jose men suspected in the shooting death of a 25-year-old immigrant from Ethiopia, whose body was found in South San Jose, pleaded not guilty on Nov 23 to murder charges, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

Samuel Rose, 20, and Ronald Correa, 20 , have been charged with the murder of Fisseha Isaac Gebremichael, 25, of San Jose, whose body was found Feb. 9 on the curb in the 600 block of Braxton Drive, located south of Hellyer Avenue.

Prosecutors allege Rose and Correa were armed with a .22 caliber handgun at the time of the murder, according to the charging documents.

Ashley Phelps, 20, of San Jose, pleaded not guilty to charges of accessory, according to the district attorney’s office. Prosecutors allege that Phelps harbored and concealed Rose after the murder, according to the charging documents.

Gebremichael died of a gunshot wound and was found by a resident early in the morning, according to San Jose police. Court documents that would provide more details surrounding the crime have been sealed by the court at the request of the district attorney’s office.

Rose, Correa and Phelps have a preliminary hearing scheduled for Jan. 25, a process in which a judge will determine if there is sufficient evidence to force the defendants to stand trial.