Gang member will stand trial after sucker-punching another man

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – A gang member accused of “sucker-punching” a man during an altercation in the Gaslamp District, resulting in the victim’s death, was ordered Wednesday to stand trial on a murder charge.

Mahad A. Ahmed, 23, faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted in the June 15 death of 25-year-old Michael Louis Beaver.

Superior Court Judge Kenneth So ruled that enough evidence was presented at Ahmed’s preliminary hearing for the defendant to proceed to trial.

At Ahmed’s arraignment in July, Deputy District Attorney Melissa Vasel alleged the defendant struck Beaver in the head after six people from the defendant’s group got into an argument with Beaver, his brother and a friend in the 500 block of F Street about 1 a.m. near the clubs Maloney’s and Encore.

Vasel said Beaver was taking care of his brother — who was getting sick — when a female from the defendant’s group slapped Beaver in the face.

“Another male in the (defendant’s) group punches the victim, and while the victim is completely unaware of the defendant, who is standing back with three other males, (the defendant) just runs up and punches him (Beaver) right on the side of the head, killing him,” Vasel alleged.

The altercation was captured on surveillance video, the prosecutor said.

A witness heard the victim’s head strike a metal rail as he fell backward from Ahmed’s punch, she said.

“It is very clear that at the time the defendant hit the victim, the victim had no idea it was coming,” the prosecutor told reporters. “It seemingly came out of nowhere.”

Several hours later, Ahmed was arrested for an alleged probation violation following a disturbance at a lounge in City Heights, Vasel said. She said Ahmed’s clothes were impounded, and Beaver’s blood was found on the defendant’s shirt.

Ahmed was in custody July 10 when he was re-arrested in connection with Beaver’s death.