Third man charged with murder in death of teen in Rancho Bernardo

A third suspect accused in the death of a Rancho Bernardo teen who was run over by a car during a drug robbery gone wrong pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder and robbery charges.

Homer Earl Gibbs, 21, was taken into custody last month in connection with the March 7, 2019, death of the 16-year-old victim. Authorities have identified the boy in court papers only as Christian H.

The teen’s death was initially believed to be the result of a traffic incident, and traffic division investigators were handling the case. But during an autopsy, the county Medical Examiner’s Office determined “the cause of death was a homicide and ... not caused by a traffic incident.”

Ten months after the slaying, San Diego police arrested Angel Marcel Ramirez, 20, and Joshua Edward Benjamin, 21. Both pleaded not guilty in January 2020 to murder and robbery charges.

No details were disclosed at Gibbs’ arraignment regarding his alleged role in the teen’s death.

When Ramirez — whose middle name also appears as Marceo in jail records — and Benjamin were arraigned last year, Deputy District Attorney Christina Eastman alleged the defendants robbed the victim and, in the process of fleeing the scene, ran over the boy’s head with their vehicle.

According to the prosecutor, the victim had sought to purchase $100 worth of drugs from the defendants, who met with the teen around 11:25 p.m. on Cresta Drive near Rancho Bernardo Road. When the youth handed his money to Ramirez, who was sitting in the backseat, Benjamin sped away, prosecutors alleged.

Eastman said the victim hung onto the open rear car window in an attempt to get the drugs or his money back. Ramirez allegedly punched the teen in the face and pried his fingers from the car window, causing him to fall into the street, where his head was run over by the vehicle, she said.

Ramirez and Benjamin are scheduled for a preliminary hearing next week in San Diego Superior Court, though Eastman said it will likely be postponed due to Gibbs’ recent arrest.

Gibbs remains in custody without bail.