Man to Stand Trial for Alleged Fatal Attack Outside Beaumont Nightclub

A Banning man accused of gunning down a nightclub patron during an altercation must stand trial on murder and other charges, a judge ruled Thursday.

Demario Anton Jackson, 25, would face 50 years to life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder, as well as sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations, in the July 16 death of 46-year-old Andy Albarran.

Following a 90-minute preliminary hearing Thursday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Christian Thierbach found there was sufficient evidence to bound Jackson over for trial.

A post-indictment arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 15.

The defendant remained in custody in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.

According to witnesses, got into a scuffle about 1:30 a.m. July 16 outside the Celebrities Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge in the 500 block of Beaumont Avenue, culminating in Albarran being shot twice, after which a Beaumont police officer shot Jackson.

The defendant and victim had been in the nightclub moments before, watching a local rapper perform, according to Deputy District Attorney Jon Brandon. He said the reason for the scuffle has never been firmly established.

As the two men tangled, Jackson allegedly pulled a .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol and shot Albarran through the shoulder. The victim fell face-down on the ground, and when he attempted to get on his feet, the defendant shot him again, according to Brandon.

The second shot perforated Albarran's right lung, which proved fatal.

Beaumont police Officer Brent Conan was on patrol that night and stopped at the club to investigate as patrons were exiting. The lawman testified that as he was walking around the club, a woman got his attention, pointing out the fight.

Conan said that when he approached the individuals exchanging blows, he heard a popping sound and was momentarily disoriented, unable to identify the source of what turned out to be gunfire.

According to the officer, he saw a pistol in the defendant's hand and yelled for him to drop it, but he didn't, prompting Conan to fire his sidearm, which was also a .45 semiautomatic.

The officer fired five times, striking Jackson in the leg and upper body, causing the defendant to collapse.

Albarran was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital.

Jackson was taken to the same facility and stabilized. He was later moved to Riverside County Regional Medical Center in Moreno Valley, where he made a full recovery.

The defendant has prior convictions, mainly for traffic violations. At the time of the shooting, he was out on bail for an August 2010 arrest for allegedly carrying a gun without a permit, driving under the influence and resisting arrest.