The jury trial for a man accused in the shooting death of a homeless trans woman outside of a Sylmar convenience store that was described by authorities as a hate-motivated killing has been pushed back, adding yet another delay to a case that has been ongoing since 2022.
The trial was scheduled to start on Monday, Dec. 2, in the San Fernando Courthouse but failed to begin. It’s been moved to Jan. 10, 2025.
Eric Antonio Sanchez, 32, is charged with one count of murder and one count of attempted murder with a hate crime allegation, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
In 2022, Sanchez, then 29, approached 48-year-old Cherry Bush in the parking lot near the intersection of Polk Street and Foothill Boulevard around 1:20 a.m. on July 5. Bush was wearing women’s clothing and nail polish while talking to another person.
Sanchez allegedly made derogatory remarks about Bush’s appearance, fired multiple shots at the pair and fled the scene. According to the LA County Coroner’s Office, Bush died from a gunshot wound to the head the following day. The bystander was not injured during the shooting.
A statement from the District Attorney’s Office said Bush “was allegedly targeted based on a presumption of [her] gender identity and sexual orientation.”
Sanchez has been held without bail since his arrest. He had three arraignment meetings in 2022 between July and August. However, this past year, there have been multiple delays in the case. Of the 11 planned proceedings in 2024 – including the one held this week – only two were held.
In a statement, District Attorney George Gascón said, “Hate crimes have spiked across the country in recent years and we remain steadfast in ensuring that we hold these violent individuals accountable while working to prevent such violence from happening in the future. Targeting someone because of their race, religion, gender or sexual orientation is unconscionable.”