Judge orders man to stand trial in Feltonville shootings

After warning Pedro Colon's family and friends to be quiet or risk being arrested, a Municipal Court judge yesterday ordered Colon to stand trial on charges of murder, six attempted murders and conspiracy.

Colon, 22, was arrested June 23 for shooting into the crowded La Quinta Restaurant and Bar, at 5th and Courtland streets in Feltonville, killing one person and wounding six others.

The shooting, which took place two days earlier just after 1 a.m. on Father's Day, left Damien Aguilar, 35, dead of a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

The other victims - four men and two women - are recovering or have recovered.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Selber said that after Colon had gotten into two fights at the bar he angrily told other patrons that he would return with a gun and kill somebody.

There is no evidence that any of the victims knew Colon or had fought with him.

"They didn't even know what happened," Selber said after the preliminary hearing.

Colon remains behind bars without bail.

Aguilar's widow, Jennifer Matias, 21, picked Colon's picture from a photo lineup shortly after the shootings.

Yesterday, Matias, who was aided on the witness stand by a Spanish-language interpreter, noted that Colon had cut the "wavy Afro" hairstyle that he wore the night that she said she witnessed him gun down her husband.

At one point while testifying, Matias complained that several of Colon's supporters were making faces at her.

"Mr. Colon has a very competent defense attorney. Let it happen in here," Judge Patrick F. Dugan cautioned Colon's group. "Folks, take that seriously . . . Don't get involved in anything in the street."

Before dismissing court, the judge issued a stay-away order to protect Matias from Colon's supporters, and set his next court date for Sept. 9.

Colon has a young son and was unemployed at the time of the shooting, said Douglas L. Dolfman, one of his two attorneys.

Colon is innocent of all the charges because he was not even at the bar when the shootings took place, Dolfman said.

"We have an alibi defense which we are still investigating," he said after the hearing. "It is still our contention that Pedro Colon was wrongly accused and will be vindicated."

Said Selber: "The evidence will show otherwise."

Tobi A. Russeck, Dolfman's co-counsel, said of Colon's supporters who ran afoul of the judge:

"I don't think they're going to do anything to jeopardize Pedro."