Dante Terrel Murphy, 30, has entered a no-contest plea to a murder charge with the use of a firearm in the downtown Chico killing of 30-year-old Sean Ray Allen Jr. The plea was entered Friday during a hearing that had been scheduled to set a jury trial date. Murphy now faces 25 years to life in state prison and is slated to be sentenced on July 21, 2026.
According to a case summary from the Butte County District Attorney's Office, surveillance footage and witness accounts describe the confrontation unfolding near Broadway and W. Fourth Streets in downtown Chico. Prosecutors say Murphy went to his car, retrieved a handgun and fired multiple rounds at Allen, who appeared to be unarmed. Allen was taken to Enloe Medical Center and later pronounced dead; an autopsy determined he died from three gunshot wounds. Shell casings collected at the scene were later forensically matched to a gun detectives recovered during the investigation, according to the district attorney's office.
The no-contest plea was "a surprising development," as reported by KRCR, because Murphy had been expected to set a jury trial date. KRCR reports Murphy will return to court on July 21 for sentencing, where prosecutors say he faces 25 years to life in prison. The station also noted that Murphy's attorney did not immediately comment on the plea.
What the Plea Means
Under California law, a plea of nolo contendere (commonly called a no-contest plea) is treated like a guilty plea for sentencing purposes, as set out in Penal Code section 1016, according to the California Legislature. The district attorney's office had previously outlined firearm enhancements in the complaint and noted that Murphy's record includes prior felony convictions for auto theft, grand theft, felony assault and failure to appear, which the office said supported its request that bail be denied. Detectives say Murphy fled the area after the shooting and was tracked to Oakland and Las Vegas before being taken into custody by Oakland Police on Jan. 28 and returned to Butte County custody, per the Butte County District Attorney's Office.
The case is scheduled to return to Butte County Superior Court for sentencing on July 21, 2026, when a judge will decide Murphy's punishment following his no-contest plea.
