the Beach Street house, purportedly so that Pepin could purchase drugs from Madrid. Madrid drove to Pepin's house on Beach Street with two to three kilograms of cocaine. Shortly after Pepin and Mendez arrived at the house, the front doorbell rang. Mendez heard Madrid speaking with Pepin. Pepin brought Madrid into the bedroom to greet Mendez. Mendez observed that Madrid had a black knapsack with him, similar to the kind Madrid used to transport cocaine. Soon afterwards, Pepin said to Madrid in substance, "Come on, let's make the deal." Then Pepin and Madrid left the bedroom.
After the men left the room, Mendez heard a few loud booming noises which did not sound like gunshots. What Mendez soon learned was that she had heard the sound of Pepin crackingSherman Avenue apartment. An issue remains on how Rosario stood up from his seat when Pepin confronted him with the charge that Rosario had hired Nelo to kill him. It is not clear what Rosario's intent was when he stood up, what Pepin thought was Rosario's intent, whether Rosario had the means to kill Pepin at that point, and what Pepin thought Rosario's means were. Pepin's intent when Rosario sat across from him is open to interpretation. These questions are for the jury.
As to the killing of Madrid, there appears to be barely sufficient evidence which might lead a jury to rationally conclude that Pepin acted in self defense. The government's witness, Mendez, had told Loyola that Madrid had come to Pepin's and Mendez's apartment and that there