Merced man accused of killing 9-month-old attacked in court by another murder suspect

MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) -- Merced County courtroom deputies had to tackle an inmate today when he attacked the Merced man accused of killing a 9-month-old boy last month.

James McRae went down with a thud when a sheriff's deputy intervened to stop his attack on Daevon Motshwane.

"He just walked up behind him and started punching him," said Elena Perez.

Perez has attended all of Motshwane's court hearings as her family looks for justice for her nephew, Darius King Grigsby.

The 9-month-old was shot and killed while on a walk with his mother and a male friend.

Police say Motshwane was the shooter, and the man was his intended target.

Now Motshwane seems to be a target.

"He killed an innocent baby and things are going to happen to him," Perez said. "He deserves everything he gets."

Baby Darius' family members say the attack shocked them, but they're not upset to see the accused killer under attack.

Mother Monica Ayala says she had to make herself leave the courtroom as it happened.

"Me personally, I would've joined, so I couldn't (stay)," said Ayala. "I had to walk out and cry and calm down."

McRae is also an accused killer, charged with stabbing a 40-year-old man to death in June 2021.

Since he's been in jail, he picked up two new cases for alleged attacks while in custody.

Motshwane's arraignment was postponed Thursday because they're still settling on which attorney will take the case.

He's now set to enter a plea next week.

McRae is set for a hearing in three weeks, but he might have to come back sooner to face a third new charge since his arrest.