Today, San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar announced co-defendants Christina Lyn Garner, 42, and Jeremy Wayne Jones, 49, were arraigned on murder charges with a special circumstance alleging the victim, Justin Peoples, was intentionally killed because of his race, color, religion, nationality, or country of origin.  It is further alleged that weapons, including a firearm, were used to commit the murder.  Defendant Christopher Dimenco, 58, was arraigned on accessory charges.

"There is no place for hate in our community. No one should be victimized because of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion,” said District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar. “These types of crimes are reprehensible and my administration will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law to hold those who perpetuate hate accountable.”

“There is no room for hate in Tracy or anywhere,” said Tracy Police Chief Sekou Millington. “When community members are victims of crimes related to hare, we will use our resources to bring those responsible to justice.”

On March 15, 2022, Tracy Police Department responded to a call of a male subject suffering from a gunshot wound at the Chevron gas station on North Tracy Boulevard. Officers arrived on scene and found the victim, Justin Peoples, 30, with a gunshot and multiple stab wounds. During the course of the investigation, Tracy Police Department Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and Special Enforcement Team (SET) took defendants Christina Lyn Garner and Jeremy Wayne Jones into custody in connection with Justin Peoples’ death.

Defendants return before the Honorable Judge Ronald Northup on April 4, 2022 for further arraignment. All three defendants have been remanded to custody.