Trial date set for East Bay man accused of Bay Area diner slaying

Two men charged with a 2021 killing in Vallejo had their trial set for June in Solano County Superior Court Tuesday and will return for a trial confirmation in February.

Judge John B. Ellis ordered Kevonte Maurice Ridgle, 33, of Antioch, and Dequan Antonio Wright, 32, of Vacaville to stand trial for June 16 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 23 in the Fairfield Law and Justice Center. Their trial confirmation is set for Feb. 23 at 8:30 a.m.

Vallejo criminal defense attorney Dustin M. Gordon represents Ridgle. San Francisco attorney Jai M. Gohel represents Wright. Deputy District Attorneys Jason Lianides and Ilana Shapiro represent the DA’s Office.

As previously reported, Ridgle and Wright are charged with the Sept. 16, 2021 killing of Edward Anderson, 38, at the Black Bear Diner in Vallejo, a crime investigators believe was gang-related.

Ridgle is charged with first-degree murder, a felony with the special circumstance of lying in wait, and several enhancements: being a member of a street gang, being a repeat offender, and causing great bodily injury. He also is charged with having three prior convictions of being a felon or addict in possession of a firearm. Wright also faces a first-degree murder charge, with the same enhancements, and also having three prior convictions of being a felon or addict in possession of a firearm.

After an 11-day preliminary hearing that began in October 2022, Jeffrey C. Kauffman, citing “sufficient evidence” to hold them for trial, ordered Wright and Ridgle to return for a held-to-answer arraignment. They pleaded not guilty.

During a Nov. 2 hearing, Kauffman said there was enough evidence to show that Wright and Ridgle committed murder using rifles, confirming information in the criminal complaint.

Also, Kauffman said there was enough evidence to indicate the murder was committed to benefit a criminal street gang and that the two men, both previously convicted felons, were “lying in wait” before shooting Anderson, the latter a “special circumstance” allegation.

In some cases, special circumstances compel district attorneys to seek the death penalty, but Shapiro told The Reporter she would not seek capital punishment for Anderson’s killing.

If found guilty at trial of first-degree murder, Ridgle and Wright each face 25 years to life, plus the likelihood of significant additional time for using a gun, committing a crime to benefit a gang, if found to be true, being previously convicted felons, and the special allegation, if proven, of lying in wait.