Stockton Fire Capt. Vidal "Max" Fortuna's killer found guilty, to be sentenced in April
A jury on Tuesday found Robert Somerville guilty of murder in the shooting death of Stockton Fire Capt. Vidal “Max” Fortuna.
Somerville shot and killed Fortuna, 47, while responding to a fire near Aurora and Washington streets on Jan. 31, 2022.
After more than a year of court appearances, Somerville, 68, appeared before San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Charlotte Orcutt and a jury for the decision to his case.
Somerville is scheduled to be back in court on April 10 for sentencing.
“Stockton Fire Department Captain Fortuna’s death was an unfathomable tragedy. He was murdered because the defendant made the choice to shoot without cause, legal justification, or concern for human life,” said Ron Freitas, San Joaquin County District Attorney in a statement.
Somerville was denied bail in August based on past history of failing to appear in court four times for DUI charges.
Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Robert Somerville guilty in shooting death of Stockton fire captain
