Farshad Zachary Jamali, 25, was killed on September 28, 2016, at the Enclave Apartment complex in Fresno, California. Caputa approached Jamali with a shotgun and both Caputa and Smith fired their weapons at the same time, resulting in Jamali’s death.

Investigators found Jamali had been selling marijuana, and his girlfriend Jenna Flores had been selling small amounts supplied by him. Flores had communicated with Caputa about purchasing marijuana, and on the day of the killing Jamali and Flores arranged to meet Smith and Caputa for what was described as a drug transaction. The meeting ended in what the prosecution described as an attempted robbery that became deadly.

Malachi Caputa was charged with first-degree murder under a felony-murder theory with robbery as the predicate felony; the court found true a firearm use enhancement and Caputa was sentenced to 50 years to life. Testimony at the court trial included statements from Jenna Flores.