POMONA -- The double-slaying last year in front of a Mission Boulevard furniture store came at the end of what was supposed to be a simple marijuana purchase, according to court testimony today.
A man who survived the April 29, 2010 shooting in Pomona told a detective that he and two other men parked at about 10:30 p.m. and waited in the car expecting to make a $10 marijuana purchase from a resident of a nearby mobile-home park.
Instead, the group was ambushed by a man who fired at least four shots with a rifle, according to testimony in Pomona Superior Court.
The man in the driver's seat, 44-year-old Michael McCall of Ontario, and the man in the passenger seat, 48-year-old Allen Alexander of Pomona, were shot and killed.
The survivor, Robert Ollie of Pomona, ran from the car when the gunman opened fire, but he traveled only a few feet before he was knocked to the ground by a gunshot to the back.
Testimony about the shooting came during a preliminary hearing for two Pomona men charged in the case: Pedro Martinez, 24, and Maximillan Hernandez, 26.
At the end of the hearing, Judge Tia Fisher ruled that prosecutors presented enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
Martinez and Hernandez each face two counts of murder and a count of attempted murder, plus "special allegations" that the crime was committed in association with a street gang.
Because prosecutors have charged the men with two counts of murder, they are eligible for the death penalty.
Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Ian Phan said after the hearing that prosecutors in his office will decide later in the case whether to pursue death.
Detectives first identified Martinez as a suspect through Ollie, who said he called Martinez to arrange the marijuana purchase, according to testimony from Detective Mark McCann.
Martinez was arrested about two months after the shooting, but he was nearly released from custody because prosecutors initially declined to file charges for lack of evidence, McCann testified.
McCann said that in his initial interview with Martinez, he denied being involved in the shooting.
Several days later -- mere hours from the deadline for police to release Martinez -- the suspect again asked to speak to McCann.
Martinez then gave a detailed confession in which he not only cemented the prosecution's case against himself, he also further implicated Hernandez, McCann testified.
Martinez told McCann that the shooting came after a perceived act of disrespect.
He said he met Ollie and the other men at their parked car in the 1000 block of East Mission Boulevard, and Ollie handed him a $1 bill and demanded marijuana, according to McCann.
Martinez took the gesture as an act of disrespect, and he shared the story with Hernandez, another resident of the mobile-home park who prosecutors allege is a gang member.
Martinez told McCann that after he shared the story, Hernandez retrieved a rifle and told Martinez to drive past the group's car, McCann testified.
As Martinez approached the group, Hernandez left the car and opened fire with the rifle, Martinez told McCann.
McCall's brother, Darryl McCall, attended the hearing and said afterward that he believes Martinez and Hernandez should be imprisoned for life.
"That was my brother, my best friend," he said.