By Ari Burack
June 28, 2008
A San Francisco man was sentenced Friday to 15 years to life in prison for the 2006 daylight shooting, as a juvenile, of another man who he claims had previously threatened his own life.
Daniel Elizalde, now 20, was 17 years old at the time he and some of his friends were driving in San Francisco’s Excelsior district, when they spotted Karl Bartholome crossing the street with his girlfriend and 5-year-old nephew, on April 30, 2006.
According to prosecutors, Elizalde got out of the car and exchanged words with Bartholome, and then shot at him twice, hitting him once the head. Bartholome, 19, also of San Francisco, was pronounced dead at San Francisco General Hospital.
Elizalde was arrested at his home the next day and was charged as an adult in the case.
In April of this year, Elizalde pleaded guilty in San Francisco Superior Court to second degree murder, the mandatory sentence for which is 15 years to life, according to prosecutors.
A repentant-sounding Elizalde this afternoon told members of Bartholome’s family, and his own family, in the courtroom that he was a different man and took full responsibility for his actions.
“I was lost at that point of my life,” Elizalde said, adding that he was “easily influenced and hanging out with the wrong group of people.”
“The streets turned me into something I’m not,” he said.
John Shields, a psychologist for the defense, testified Friday that he found Elizalde had “some indications” of substance abuse, anti-social thinking, and post-traumatic stress from earlier assaults against him.
Shields said Elizalde told him that one of those previous assaults had come from Bartholome, who had also threatened his life, he said. Shields also said Elizalde told him that on the day of the shooting, he had consumed alcohol and taken marijuana and Ecstasy.
“I can only pray and hope for a second chance in life,” Elizalde said.
“Two years ago… you changed all our lives,” Bartholome’s cousin Dorothy Alonzo told Elizalde. “Karl was my best friend.”
“I can speak to my cousin, but I don’t get an answer,” she lamented. Looking at Elizalde and his family, she added, “They can speak to you and get an answer.”
In sentencing Elizalde to 15 years to life, Judge Robert Dondero described the shooting as “vigilante-style activity” that “is why we have a homicide rate in this community that is so outrageous.”
San Francisco’s 2008 homicide tally now stands at 52, according to police statistics.
The Hunger Site
July 30, 2008 at 7:42 pm
REST IN PEACE
“KARL BARTOLOME”
JUNE 8, 1986-APRIL 30, 2006
” I LOVE U BRU U KNO DIS BE”
July 22, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Whoever wrote this article has seen me before. I was in the courtroom when all of this was said. I am going to be as polite as possible. I feel judge dondero heard alot but didn’t listen. John Shields has known Daniel for maybe a percentage as I have and portrayed him very well. When asked if Daniel fits the criteria of someone to be sent to Youth Authority . He said absolutely and gave more than enough reason. The entire time Dondero’s face didn’t change, it was like he already had the anwer and just let everyone talk for fun. I feel that if you want to be a jude here you have to have been raised in the city.maybe Dondero was raised here but if so then why is the murder rate shocking. Living here my whole life I sceen murders in front of my eyes. This place is no werse than when I was a kid. So if the murder rate is so shocking then I have to ask why this horrible system keeps letting people off on gun charges.So you’ll let and immagrant with and assault charge robberry charge and then a gun charge be released to kill three people in the same neighborhood. an Someone who can say why they did it get to be the example for society.Oh but there is no excuse for murder. Bull shit how many rich people got good lawyers to lie and say they were threatened for the lives. Oh that’s different yeah the is unjust. Justice isn’t what federal or state court cares about it money not people. Either you can pay off enough people to slide away or you can die in jail and they sell your organs. Makes no difference to them as long as the money’s coming. Judge Dondero I can only hope that you get the worse outcome possible. To me your Judgement was no better than Daniel’s at 17 years old. So really go play in traffic. I already said that to the disrepectful lawyer trying to put Daniel away.She was very unproffesional . To the family of Karl , I’m sorry you had to lose him. Though I don’t think you envy us. Neither of us will ever be the same after this.but to say you envy us is to say you will it could be the opposite. Ask yourself how happy you would be with Karl in jail for life. Do you think he would have made it. Daniel probably can survive 15 years inside of jail. So after 15 years around criminals and other killers and he’s now apart of a prison gang, now California see’s him fit for society . what kind of sense is that. The people who run this system are gang members too. The difference is rich white and more organized . Does that make it ok?