A man accused of fatally shooting a Halloween partygoer in La Quinta more than six years ago intentionally initiated hostilities, a prosecutor claimed Thursday, while the defendant’s attorney argued his client encountered a life-or-death situation that required him to open fire in self-defense.
Jorge Andres Huerta Arias, 24, of Whitewater is charged with murder and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations for the Oct. 26, 2019, death of 19-year-old Anthony Carrillo of La Quinta.
In his opening statement at the Larson Justice Center Thursday, Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Steve Sorensen told jurors that Arias went to the house party at 53965 Avenida Madero armed with a handgun and intent on causing trouble…