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Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of Los Angeles, California and the U.S.
March 10, 2008
Two Men Charged in Harbor Gateway Shooting
LONG BEACH – An Eastside Torrance gang member and an associate were charged today with nine felony counts for the shooting of a 6-year-old boy in the Harbor Gateway area on Tuesday.
Deputy District Attorney John Lonergan of the Hardcore Gang Division said Ernesto Murillo, 25 (dob 08/11/82), of Torrance and Ismael Torres, 26, of Wilmington (dob 10/30/81), are due to be arraigned this afternoon at Long Beach Superior Court, Dept. J.
Murillo and Torres were charged in case No. NA077601 with three counts of attempted, willful, deliberate, premeditated murder with special gun allegations; five counts of assault with a firearm; and one count of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle. All counts carry special gang allegations, the prosecutor said.
On March 4, the victims – five adults and three children, all family members – were in the Harbor Gateway area to purchase a vehicle from a car auction lot where they had previously conducted business. When the family did not locate the lot, they drove through the 227th Street area of Torrance in search of cars for sale.
The family drove by the defendants, who were standing in a front yard, three times before Murillo made hand gestures consistent with gang signs and opened fire on the vehicle, the prosecutor said. Murillo fired several rounds, striking the car twice. One round shattered the back windshield, striking the 6-year-old victim in the head.
Though initial media reports called the incident a hate crime, the prosecutor said the crime appears to be gang related. Murillo is a documented Eastside Torrance gang member, whose moniker is “Shadow.” Authorities believe Torres is an associate of the gang.
If convicted of all counts, each defendant faces 60 years to life in prison. Bail has been recommended at $2 million each.
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