The help of an informant whose identity is being withheld was instrumental in the apprehension and arrest of two men accused of killing a York City father during a botched carjacking May 28.

After hearing testimony Friday from police and the unidentified man, District Judge Linda Williams forwarded to Common Pleas Court the homicide and robbery-related charges against Eric "Chucky" Camacho-Rodriguez, 19, of no fixed address, and Emanuel "Gordo" Rivera, 19, of 1427 Old Salem Road in West Manchester Township.

Both remain in York County Prison without bail for the homicide of Felipe Bernabe-Martinez outside his home in the 600 block of East South Street.

The informant testified he was a member of the "Black Angels" gang

with the two men and had performed a robbery with them, but he turned to police after Rivera and Camacho-Rodriguez rejected his attempts to abandon the lifestyle.

After the shooting, the informant worked with police during an elaborate surveillance operation, during which officers seized a sawed-off .22-caliber rifle, more than 400 live .22-caliber rounds and ski masks, according to testimony.

Police said Bernabe-Martinez resisted the robbery attempt and was fatally shot in the back with a .22-caliber bullet. York City Detective First Class Jeff Spence testified Friday that the seized gun matched evidence taken from Bernabe-Martinez's body.

At the time of their apprehension, the two were allegedly planning another robbery that was also supposed to end in murder, according to testimony from York City Detective First Class Jeff Spence.

The informant told police of the plan and collaborated so they could apprehend the would-be robbers at Bantz Park on the evening of May 31, according to testimony.

-- Reach Christina Kauffman at ckauffman@yorkdispatch.com.