Judge Michael Bowman on Wednesday refused to trim the murder charges against two men accused in the 2022 K Street mass shooting, keeping the case on track as a sprawling, high-stakes trial. The ruling leaves Deandre Martin and Mtula Payton each facing three murder counts while their attorneys keep fighting over where a jury should be picked and how much local publicity is too much. If the trial stays in Sacramento, it is currently expected to begin on March 30, 2026.
Judge’s written ruling and the venue fight
Bowman laid out his reasoning in a 10‑page written decision that refused to pare back the case and rejected the defense’s request for a venue change, finding that testimony and social media posts did not show the level of prejudice that would…..