Surveillance footage and testimony from the lead Clovis police detective highlighted the prosecution’s timeline Tuesday afternoon as the bench trial continued for Cassandra Michaels, the accused getaway driver in the April 2025 killing of Caleb Quick outside a Clovis McDonald’s.

Click here to read the morning update for the trial. 

Dexter Continues Testimony

Michael Dexter, a longtime friend of Michaels, resumed testimony after the lunch recess, recounting the group’s movements inside the McDonald’s before the shooting.

Dexter testified Michaels was with the alleged shooter before Quick arrived and told the group she needed to take the alleged shooter home before returning. He said Michaels appeared upset after she came back to the restaurant and brought up allegations that Quick had taken advantage of a girl.

Dexter testified the conversation lasted less than five minutes and that Michaels never expressed wanting to hurt Quick, though she appeared angry.

He also testified he first learned of the allegations against Quick about two weeks before the shooting during a phone call with the alleged shooter, who, according to Dexter, had a strong opinion about Quick.

During cross-examination, Dexter also testified the alleged shooter told him before the killing that he wanted to beat up Quick and had asked where Quick lived. Dexter testified he did not tell the alleged shooter where Quick lived. He said he later contacted Valley Crime Stoppers to report the conversation.

Surveillance footage shown in court depicted the group inside the restaurant, including an individual dressed in black entering later in the evening. Dexter said that Carlos Navarro, a witness who testified earlier Tuesday, remarked the individual resembled the alleged shooter and that he silently agreed. He said the person appeared focused on Quick while sitting in the restaurant.

Dexter testified he later learned someone had been shot outside after a person entered the restaurant to alert patrons. He said Michaels was the only member of their group who immediately left the restaurant.

Dexter Describes Michaels, Talks About Tip

During cross-examination, Dexter described Michaels as energetic and friendly before she began dating the alleged shooter. He testified the relationship became unhealthy and controlling, saying the alleged shooter was jealous of Michaels’ male friends and verbally abusive.

Dexter also testified Michaels had confided in him that the relationship was toxic and that he encouraged her to leave it. He said it was common for Michaels to drive the alleged shooter places and did not find it unusual that she drove him that night.

Dexter also testified Michaels was not a violent person.

Clovis Police Lead Detective Takes the Stand

The prosecution then called Clovis police’s lead detective on the case, Lovedeep Malhi.

Malhi testified he responded to the scene after learning Quick had been transported to St. Agnes Medical Center and was later informed Quick had died at 9:19 p.m.

He testified investigators reviewed surveillance footage from McDonald’s, the adjoining Shop-N-Go, other nearby businesses, and cellphone data to reconstruct the timeline.

Court Shows Shooting Video

Surveillance footage shown in court depicted the alleged shooter, dressed in black, running past Quick’s friends before shooting Quick and fleeing. Malhi testified the footage also showed one friend rendering aid while another called 911. Later in the footage, Michaels was shown leaving the McDonalds to her car.

Additional video showed the alleged shooter entering and leaving the McDonald’s multiple times before the shooting, sitting in the northwest corner of the restaurant and, according to Malhi, watching Quick.

Investigators also showed surveillance footage tracing the alleged shooter’s movements between the McDonald’s, the Shop-N-Go, and the exterior play area before he followed Quick outside shortly before the shooting.

Malhi testified investigators identified Michaels after learning she drove a white Tesla and confirmed the vehicle through school parking permit records.

Malhi Talks Through Surveillance Footage

According to Malhi, surveillance footage showed Michaels arriving at the McDonald’s with the alleged shooter at about 7:43 p.m. before the pair left together around 8:10 p.m. Video then showed Michaels briefly running back inside before the alleged shooter got behind the wheel of her Tesla while Michaels entered the passenger seat.

Malhi testified the white Tesla returned to the shopping center around 8:33 p.m., where Michaels walked back into the McDonald’s.

After the shooting, Malhi said surveillance footage was consistent with testimony from Richard Gabel, who testified Monday that he saw a white Tesla speed past him while he followed the fleeing suspect.

Malhi testified additional surveillance showed the Tesla circling the area before residential video captured it pulling alongside the alleged shooter on Jordan Avenue between Willow and Chestnut avenues. The footage showed the Tesla honking before the alleged shooter entered the vehicle.

Investigators then tracked the Tesla traveling toward the area of Shepherd and Clovis avenues, where testimony indicated the alleged shooter lived.

The bench trial adjourned Tuesday afternoon and is scheduled to resume at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

—

Connect with Anthony W. Haddad on social media. Got a tip? Send an email.