Features

SAN DIEGO — A San Diego man pleaded innocent to murder on Friday for fatally shooting a 17-year-old who was videotaping friends doing skateboarding tricks as part of a drama class project. 

The murder charge against Ruben Tadepa, 44, also carried an allegation of using a gun. Tadepa was being held without bail.  

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 25 years to life in prison. 

Tadepa is accused of shooting Ray Huffman three times on Tuesday night while Huffman’s friends performed skateboarding tricks in the neighborhood.  

Residents of the Lomita  

area say that Tadepa had complained of the skateboarding  

in the past but the teens  

weren’t troublemakers. 

Huffman’s father, Ray Lang, interrupted the arraignment by trying to give the defendant pictures of the teen. 

“I would like to present pictures of my child to this murderer and give them to him and let him remember what my son looks like so he can look at him every day of his life,” Lang said through his tears.  

Lang then apologized to the judge for the disruption. 

Tadepa remained standing, facing the judge and with his back to Lang. 

A makeshift memorial with religious figurines, flowers and cards has been set up in front of the home where Huffman died. 

His video project, “Skateboard Survivor,” was to be turned in Friday.