California, USA – Jean Pierre Rices on Monday admitted special circumstances allegations of murder two Chaldeans during a robbery, which makes him eligible for the death penalty.

The Chaldean community mourned the heinous killings of Heather Mattia, 22, and Firas Eiso, 23, of El Cajon, California.  The owner and young clerk, Firas Eiso who recently arrived in America after fleeing for his safety from Christian persecutors, were each shot once in the back of the head March 1, 2006 in cold-blooded murder. 

Both Chaldean victims were well known by customers of Granada, the East County El Cajon convenience store as faithful and compassionate workers who went out of their way to help neighbors.  

The community was outraged over the killing and the full weight of the Chaldean Church and community leaders encouraged law enforcement to give the murder top priority. 

Quickly the El Cajon police caught the perpetrators and within a year arrested a third suspect, Nichele Delon Hopson, 23, was arrested in Castro Valley.   Hopson was tracked to Castro Valley by an investigator with the District Attorney's office. 

Hopson is arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder for driving a getaway vehicle after the shooting, said acting Lt. Frank La Haye of the El Cajon police.

The other two murderers Jean Pierre Rices of El Cajon and Anthony James Miller of Alpine have already been charged with murder.  Rices pleaded guilty to murder and robbery charges and is the first of the three to face the death penalty for his part in the murder. 

Authorities say both victims were held up by Rices at Granada before being shot in the head.

The penalty phase of Rices' trial is scheduled to begin in February, after the trial of his co-defendant.

Jurors will be asked to recommend whether Rices should be executed or sentenced to life in prison without parole.