Prospect Street Shooting: 'Premeditated Execution,' Prosecutor Says

The Watsonville man accused in a double shooting that killed one man and seriously injured his girlfriend pleaded not guilty to all charges during a brief court appearance Tuesday.

Outside of court, the prosecutor on the case said Michael Miller, 34, planned to shoot his friend, 37-year-old Dominic Mower, and the injuries Mower's 22-year-old girlfriend suffered were collateral damage.

"This was a premeditated execution," Assistant District Attorney Johanna Schonfield said of Mower's killing. "... I think the attempt on her life was because she was there."

Mower was fatally shot and his girlfriend was struck by at least two bullets when Miller allegedly broke into home on the corner of Prospect and Madison streets around 3 a.m. on July 25. The two men were good friends, Schonfield said. Authorities have declined to say what Miller wanted to steal.

The girlfriend was able to get to a neighbor's house and seek help. She was shot in the head and suffered skull fractures, but Schonfield said she is recovering from the "very serious injuries."

"She is able to talk and her memory seems intact," Schonfield said.

In court Tuesday, Miller pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, attempted murder, robbery, burglary and gun crimes. If convicted, he could be sentenced to 90 years to life in prison.

His bail was set at $1.525 million, which is standard for the crimes he's charged with. However, because Miller was on felony probation for drug-related crimes at the time of the double shooting, his probation was revoked and he is being held without bail.

The Public Defenders Office retained Miller's case Tuesday. Schonfield has said there may be a conflict because some prosecution witnesses, including the injured girlfriend, have been represented by attorneys from that office in the past. Public Defender Jon Minsloff said there was no conflict.

Miller returns to court Aug. 28 to set a date for a preliminary hearing.

 For complete coverage of the Prospect Street double shooting, click HERE.