Guns, Illegal Sex, and a Runaway

A jealous girlfriend. A 17-year old runaway. Guns, and illegal sex.

The drama which unfolded in a San Rafael motel room over the weekend was fit for television, according to the Marin Independent Journal, which pieced together the sordid real-life tale.

Turns out that Jan. 15 argument at the Travelodge on Francisco Boulevard East in Novato was in fact a jealous girlfriend and a friend armed with a handgun interrupting two men who were involved with a 17-year old runaway from Novato.

The gunman and woman surprised Humberto Jose Espinoza, 29, and his friend, whose name is not released. The friend is the boyfriend of one Shannon Lacey Nakooka, who allegedly busted in on the three motel-stayers with Juan Manuel Ponce, who was armed.

The friend leapt out the window of the room at the sight of a gun. Nakooka accused the friend of having sex with the runaway, but only Espinoza did, he told police later.

Cops found Ponce's silver BMW soon after the initial call for help from Espinoza, who laid the whole tale out on the line, the newspaper reported.

Nakooka, Ponce, and Espinoza were all booked into county jail on multiple charges. The boyfriend, whose supposed infidelity started it all, was not charged with a crime.

The runaway was returned to her parents, perhaps a bit worse for wear.