A San Diego man was sentenced yesterday to 60 years and 10 months to life in state prison for the 2023 Barrio Logan shooting that killed 53-year-old Brian Noel. Earlier this month, a jury convicted David Gatheright of first-degree murder and related weapons charges. On June 2, 2023, police reported a shooting in the 1600 block of Logan Avenue near 16th Street.
The sentence of 60 years and 10 months to life was handed down after the court found Gatheright guilty of first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and being a felon in possession of a handgun. Prosecutors contended that the murder conviction, along with the firearms enhancements, warranted the high sentence. According to The San Diego Union-Tribune, the total number of consecutive sentencing and enhancement terms now exceeds six decades.
San Diego police said Noel was discovered with numerous gunshot wounds to the chest after callers reported gunfire in the 1600 block of Logan Avenue. He was transported to a hospital and died less than an hour later, according to the San Diego Police Department. Detectives examined security footage and interviewed witnesses, who recounted a brief verbal altercation between Noel and the suspect shortly before the rounds were fired. After months of research, the department recognized Gatheright as the culprit and distributed a Crime Stoppers poster while looking for him.
Gatheright was arrested in St. Petersburg, Florida, on November 19, 2023, and then extradited to San Diego, according to local media sources. San Diego investigators worked with St. Petersburg police to arrest him on an outstanding murder warrant before bringing him back to face charges. As the case approached trial, ABC 10News provided updates on the arrest and extradition information.
According to The San Diego Union-Tribune, prosecutors presented evidence at trial that persuaded jurors to convict Gatheright of first-degree murder and believe the firearm claims were real, raising his punishment vulnerability. Gatheright’s prior felony offenses were also acknowledged before sentencing, which can result in additional penalties under California law. In a piece on the police manhunt, Hoodline included the previous manhunt as well as the department’s request for tips in 2023.
The punishment concludes a case that included a months-long hunt for a suspect, a cross-country arrest, and a trial based on security video and witness evidence. Any appeals or other post-conviction challenges would go through the courts in the coming months.
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