A man accused of shooting and killing his roommate appeared in court for the first time Wednesday, staring at the ground as friends of the man he allegedly killed filled the courtroom.
Calvin Glass Jr., 18, was held on $1.5 million bail as his lawyer entered a guilty plea on his behalf. He was formally charged with first degree murder and attempted first degree murder.
Police say Glass confessed to shooting his roommate Jordan Luis and injuring another Sunday afternoon at the Shadow Ridge Apartments on Barnard Drive, a complex that houses former foster children who have aged out of the system, according to residents.
The slain Oceanside man and the roommate accused of killing him had been feuding for months about their apartment’s cleanliness, and the victim was planning on moving out, his former foster mother told NBC 7 in an exclusive interview Monday.
"I told them my baby's life was in danger," said a woman who identified herself as the victim's grandmother. "That's what I told them."
The surviving victim filed a restraining order against Glass.
Over the past three or four months, Luis and Glass had been fighting over who is messier, according to Luis' foster mother Michelle Zambrana in an exclusive interview. Glass also accused Luis of stealing from him, the victim had told Zambrana.
“I think they were paranoid about each other,” she said. “They got in a few arguments and threatened each other; then they would talk about it, but then they’d be arguing, so I don’t think they’d be able to come to terms of being friends.”
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They were both waiting for Luis to move out when the fatal shooting took place.
The victim’s best friend Evan Eckman told NBC 7 that Luis didn’t have to die. Eckman believes their foster program failed to ensure Luis’ safety.
“If someone has been asking to move out because he doesn’t feel comfortable with the roommate he’s with, and you’re supposed to be the ones caring for us, what’s the point of having a program by the state?” Eckman asked.
The foster program, Casa de Amparo, responded in an emailed statement:
"Our attention, thoughts, and focus have been and will continue to be, on the safety, protection, and well-being of the youth and families in our care. Our hearts are broken by the loss of this young man and our condolences go out to all of those affected."
Read the organization's full statement below.
Choking back tears, Zambrana showed the Native American ritual of water and candles she had established for Luis’ passage into the afterlife.
She also brought out pictures of them together, reminiscing about the teen she thought of as her own.
“He’s just a free spirit, real compassionate as far as kids and animals,” Zambrana said. “And he was the type to be there for a friend, you know, if anyone needed anything.”
The surviving shooting victim, whom Luis called his brother, is wanted for attempted murder in Tracy, California. He will be sent to the Stockton area after he is released from the hospital.
Police say the gun did not belong to anyone involved in the incident.
Casa de Amparo's full email is here:
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred Sunday afternoon at the Shadow Ridge apartment complex.
"It is critical for the community to be aware that information related to youth in our care is confidential and protected. This legal requirement for our organization to protect the confidentiality of all youths in our programs, remains in place even under extremely distressing circumstances.
"Our attention, thoughts, and focus have been and will continue to be, on the safety, protection, and well-being of the youth and families in our care. Our hearts are broken by the loss of this young man and our condolences go out to all of those affected. Now, more than ever, we appreciate the support of our community and we will continue to cooperate fully with the Oceanside police department regarding the criminal investigation through this difficult time."