Suspect in Alameda domestic killings appears in court

( KRON ) — The man accused of shooting and killing five members of his family in Alameda earlier this month appeared in court Monday. Members of the victims’ families saw the suspect, Shane Killian, for the first time since the killings.

Wearing a vest preventing him from causing self-bodily harm, Killian, 54, appeared before Judge Elena Condes in Alameda County Superior Court. It was his second time in court since he allegedly shot and killed his wife, in-laws and two young children inside his beach-side home in Alameda a week and a half ago.

Killian’s father-in-law’s family showed up to court Monday morning.

“It was really difficult. It was our first — my first time here. I felt very disgusted being on the other side and seeing him with no face expression. Nothing. I don’t know how someone can just stand there and not be sad about something like this,” said one victim’s niece, Karen Diaz.

Killian was represented in court by the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office. His attorney requested to have his arraignment continued for a plea.

Judge Condes obliged and Killian is now due back in court on August 30.

“We’re broken into million pieces, and, this will never — we will never forget this. And, this pain will never go away,” said Esmerelda Juarez, another of the victim’s nieces.

Killian has been charged with five counts of murder and weapons violations. He could face more than 231 years in prison if convicted and sentenced to all charges. But there could be an outside chance that at some point, he could be eligible for parole.

“There were five victims. Five victims. Two families are broken. We need justice,” said Juarez.

Killian is being held at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin without bail.

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