Judge acquits man accused in deadly 2014 shooting

ABC-7 has learned a judge acquitted the man on trial for a deadly shooting because there was a lack of evidence linking the defendant to the crime.

Police accused Daniel Sanders, 39, of shooting and killing 22-year-old Dominique Kish.

Sanders was being tried in the 409th District Court, Judge Sam Medrano’s courtroom.

In a statement sent to ABC-7, the District Attorney’s Office said, “We strongly disagree with the judge’s ruling. The judge’s ruling acquits the defendant of murder before allowing a jury to decide. We have no authority to appeal.”

In July 2014, police responded to a shooting near the intersection of Deer Avenue and Pheasant Road in Northeast El Paso.

Neighbors told police they heard about five gunshots ring out and police found Kish’s body in a car.

The victim was inside Sanders’ car when Sanders allegedly shot him, police said.

Sanders was arrested two months later outside Cielo Vista Mall.