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Indictment in Sonoma murder

Posted on February 4, 2010 by Sonoma Valley Sun

The suspect in a fatal Arnold Drive shooting last May has been formally charged with the murder of Kenneth Swolley.
Salvador Camargo, 27, was arraigned Friday for murder and various firearms charges. If convicted he faces up to 50 years in prison.
On May 9, Swolley was at the home where Camargo rented a room, working on stereo equipment. According to District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua, Camargo shot him in the head at close range. He then fled, throwing the gun into a vineyard pond.
Camargo was subdued three miles away by a Sheriff K-9 unit after bursting randomly into a home near Napa Road and Broadway. Alone at the time, the terrified resident said Camargo became increasingly irrirational and begged for her help as police surrounded the house.
There were two other people in the Arnold Drive house at the time of the shooting. One went to the Sonoma Police Station at 9:35 p.m. to report his friend had been murdered and the suspect had fled by car.
Divers found the gun in the pond several days later. Tests determined it to have been the weapon used to kill Swolley, Passalacqua said.
Camargo was held without bail. He was found incompetent on July 31, 2009, and has been held since then at Napa State Hospital. Passalacqua said Camargo will remain there until his competency is restored and he is able to assist his attorney with his defense.




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