* East Palo Alto Teen Dante Strauter Pleads Not Guilty To the shooting Death Of 27-Year-Old Joel Terrance Long

Published by Staff Writer on August 14, 2009

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A 19-year-old man accused of killing another man in a shooting that stemmed from a parking dispute in East Palo Alto on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to murder charges in San Mateo County Superior Court this afternoon.Dante Strauter was arrested early Thursday morning outside of his residence in unincorporated San Jose for the shooting death of 27-year-old Joel Terrance Long, according to East Palo Alto police.Strauter is charged with one count of murder with the use of a firearm, and one count of being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm, Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.Wagstaffe said Strauter has had two prior felony convictions in San Mateo County, one in 2008 for car theft and the other in March for illegal possession of a concealable weapon. He is in custody without bail.The incident began around 3 p.m. Wednesday when two women got in an argument because one of the women wouldn’t move her car from a driveway at 2246 Ralmar Ave. to let the other back out, East Palo Alto police Capt. John Chalmers said.Eventually the woman moved her car, but then came back to the residence with Strauter, according to Chalmers.Long, who was with the other woman, got into an argument with Strauter, which developed into a fight. Chalmers said Strauter then went to his car as if to leave, and that Long followed Strauter and approached the car door.Strauter then allegedly pulled out a handgun. Long turned around to flee but Strauter then fired four rounds at Long, Chalmers said.Long was taken to a hospital where he died.Strauter is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing Aug. 27.