On the morning he was fatally shot in May 2007, Albert “Payo” Avalos was walking down a narrow Fillmore street with three men when a vehicle pulled up, someone opened fire, and he shot back before collapsing while the vehicle sped away in reverse, a witness testified Friday in Ventura County Superior Court.

John Heredia gave the testimony during the trial of Victor Meraz. Heredia was one of seven people called to the stand Friday by the prosecution.

Meraz, 20, of Fillmore has been charged as an adult with murder, using a gun in a gang-related slaying and special circumstances of committing a drive-by shooting and a gang-related homicide. The defendant, 16 at the time of the shooting, was arrested in 2009.

During opening statements Wednesday, prosecutor Rebecca Day said Meraz and some fellow gangsters went to Blaine Avenue on May 27, 2007, with a plan to look for rivals. Meraz yelled his gang name, then fatally shot Avalos when the 23-year-old gang member approached the Suburban in which Meraz was riding, Day said.

Meraz’s attorney, Robert “Bobby” Schwartz, said Wednesday that his client acted in self-defense. He said the vehicle in which Meraz was being driven home was stuck behind another vehicle in the middle of a rival gang, and Avalos approached as part of a “pack.”

Heredia testified that before the shooting, he attended a party on Blaine Avenue. He said he left after the party ended and later began walking with three acquaintances, including Avalos, and another man who was going to give them a ride home. A former Fillmore resident, Heredia had returned that weekend to visit relatives, he said.

While they were walking, a vehicle with the rear window down pulled up, and when they looked inside, someone started firing, Heredia said. Surprised by the gunfire, Heredia ran and hid behind a tree. The vehicle started going in reverse as Avalos fired back from the street, he said.

“I believe Payo shot back,” he said. Heredia said he didn’t hear any conversation, comments from the vehicle or gang terms.

Avalos collapsed, and Heredia went to help him. People from the street and residences had gathered around, he testified.

Under cross-examination by Schwartz, Heredia said his group did not approach the vehicle. He said he didn’t know what happened to the gun Avalos fired.

Two friends of Avalos whom Heredia said were with them testified that they were intoxicated and didn’t remember details of what happened that night.

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