PALMDALE – Seventeen-year-old Christopher Flores lay on the ground as a gunman stood over him and opened fire, according to three witnesses who testified in an Antelope Valley courtroom Friday morning.
The witnesses were testifying at the preliminary hearing for Victor Flores (no relation), who is accused of murdering the teenager on Sept. 24, 2012.
Victor Flores, 37, is charged with first degree murder in connection with the incident, which happened outside of his home in the 38100 block of Boxthorn Street in Palmdale.
The suspect and the victim were neighbors, living just three houses away from each other on the same street. But there was an ongoing feud between the two families that apparently came to a head on the night of the shooting, witnesses testified Friday.
Around 9 p.m. on Sept. 24, 2012, Christopher Flores came home and was upset, according to his 22-year-old sister, Deana Carmona.
Other family members left the house and headed for Victor Flores’ home to see what was wrong, Carmona testified.
She and Christopher’s twin brother, Michael, ran to the driveway of the home next to Victor’s, Carmona said.
Standing in his open garage, Victor Flores looked angry and demanded that the two go away, Carmona testified.
Victor Flores then pulled a gun from his pocket, cocked the hammer, and threatened Michael Flores, Carmona testified.
“He said he was going to kill him, in Spanish,” Carmona said. Soon after the threat, Victor Flores shot at the ground in front of him, and then he raised his gun and fired, Carmona testified.
Carmona said she sought cover behind a neighbor’s tree while Michael Flores ran to another house.
Jonathan Lopez, the boyfriend of Christopher Flores’ mother, said he witnessed Victor Flores shoot at the two siblings.
Lopez testified that he was standing in the middle of the street to the left of Victor Flores’ house and had an unobstructed view as the drama unfolded. He said Christopher Flores was standing in Victor Flores’ driveway at the time.
The man and the teen were arguing, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying, Lopez said. Some time during the argument, Christopher Flores took his shirt off and threw it on the ground, Lopez testified. Gun in hand, Victor Flores began walking toward Christopher Flores as the teenager backed out of the driveway towards the street, Lopez testified.
Victor Flores fired at least twice and one of the shots appeared to hit Christopher Flores in the stomach, Lopez testified.
“Chris grabbed his stomach and fell to the ground,” Lopez said. He said the teenage fell into a gutter between the curb and the street.
“Chris said, ‘alright you shot me, stop!’” Lopez testified.
Victor Flores walked up to the teenager, stood over him from the sidewalk and fired a few more shots as Christopher Flores lay on the ground, Lopez testified.
“He was screaming, ‘Stop shooting me! You got me!’” Lopez testified.
Carmona also testified that she saw Victor Flores standing over her brother, Christopher Flores, and firing a gun.
A third witness testifying Friday morning said he saw the shooting on video.
The incident was captured by security cameras from one of the residences, according to testimony from Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Steven Blagg.
The teenager is seen taking off his shirt and throwing it on the ground and then flailing his arms, as Victor Flores stands in his driveway, Blagg testified.
The video shows Victor Flores raising his right hand and appearing to discharge a weapon, as Christopher Flores backs up, Blagg testified. Victor Flores walks toward Christopher Flores and fires several more rounds at Christopher Flores while the teenager is on the ground, Blagg testified.
After the shooting, another person is seen grabbing Victor Flores and pulling him back toward the garage, Blagg testified. The 17-year-old died of multiple gunshot wounds at Antelope Valley Hospital a short time later.
Sheriff’s investigators found an empty magazine from a .40-caliber handgun in Victor Flores’ front pocket, Blagg said. They also observed several empty cartridge cases at the crime scene, and they found the gun in Victor Flores’ home, Blagg said.
Following the preliminary hearing Friday morning, Superior Court Judge Kathleen Blanchard ruled there was enough evidence for Victor Flores to stand trial for murder.
Victor Flores was ordered to trial for first degree murder and two counts of assault with a firearm, and bail was set at $2,000,205. He is due back in court on March 22, for a second arraignment.
Related stories:
Teen shot and killed in Palmdale, suspect arrested
Hundreds mourn teen, bail doubled for shooter
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Eva says
Is there any update?????
yo says
where can i find the video??
American Made says
To Victor Flores family….This man got me out of a mess I got myself into.
Eberhardt, Michael C.
Michael C. Eberhardt, Attorney at Law
43825 10th Street West, Lancaster
(661) 948-8451
I believe in protecting your family.
Told_ya_so aka Forewarned says
“The incident was captured by security cameras from one of the residences….” Enough said. We have become a society that has cameras and/or video cameras everywhere. Think about that before committing a crime.
Jeff says
I am a pro gun, and pro second amendment advocate. I am for an open carry gun policy. Crimes are reduced when properly licensed individuals carry weapons, they are constitutionally allowed to carry weapons.
SpareThePropaganda says
I can’t help but wonder: If we had castle laws in effect would the teen still have had the inclination to walk onto the shooter’s property with intent to fight?
Michelle Egberts says
Another “law-abiding” citizen becomes a criminal. As I’ve blogged numerous times on this site “We are ALL one bad decision away from having a criminal record”. Such a senseless tragedy for the “law-abiding” now “MURDERER”, the victim and the families and friends of both individuals whose lives have now been shattered from that one bad and tragic decision that was made. So many victims left behind.
Now, I ask as a well-known criminal/restorative justice activist, should we have a “Gun Registry”- equivalent to the scarlet letter of the Sex Offender Registry with an interactive map/photo that discloses the names and addresses of all “law-abiding” permitted gun owners so that people can know which neighbor not to piss off and be faced with a gun, let alone shot and murdered?
readithere says
I see what you are saying M.E.,but then again, this also shows the scumbags where the guns are waiting to be stolen when the homeowners are gone. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t kinda thing!!
Gladys says
Don’t cops take their guns home with them? How about hunters and people who target practice or just collect guns? People have the right to have watch dogs and beware of dog signs, bars on their windows, shatterproof glass, security doors, alarm systems…why not guns?
The map showing who is a registered gun owner is the dumbest idea I have heard in a long time. lol. The thought of that compared to the Registered Sex Offender list is like comparing apples to…potato chips.
The RSO list definetly needs to be reworked, not eliminated, but cleaned up. Not all Registered Sex Offenders should be lumped together. They are NOT ALL pedophiles, or preditors. But that is a whole different issue.
Neighbors don’t even know who is CERT certified, why should anyone be told whether their neighbor has a registered gun?
If I had a neighbor (kid or adult,) come INTO my house threatening me and my family, I would probably be in jail too.
SpareThePropaganda says
Based on other comments I recall by Michelle Egberts, I think she is making a tongue in cheek argument trying to validate her opinion that the sex offender registry is a bad thing. I am not saying I agree with her, but I think that’s why she made the comparison.
Gladys says
I think so too. I agree with many of the things that Michelle E. says. She has some excellent ideas that really are resonable when you read them or listen to the argument.
As I said there are soooo many flaws in the RSO list. This is not the time or place for that conversation. It is off topic.
Michelle Egberts says
My point of comparison was the cost/consequences. What research shows is registry laws are ill-considered, poorly crafted, and may cause more harm than good to the communities.
Furthermore, I’m sure the defense attorney is going to use the “self-defense” (justifiable homicide) theory in this particular case. However, in California if an altercation happens in public (outside the home), the LAW requires you to RETREAT. Atleast our elected politicians are smart enough not to adopt “stand your ground” bills that removes the requirement to retreat which causes more homicides (an increase of 7 to 9 percent) in the dozen states that have “stand your ground” laws.
Gladys says
I personally agree with the stand your ground law and if I have to shoot someone (in self defense) will use that premise as a defense.
When a person sees someone walking around after dark, in there community that appears to them to be a threat. They keep and eye on them, taking a gun for protection, because it is dark outside and you know it could be dangerous. Some big person hits you and knocks you to the ground, are you going to run away? No, you are going to defend yourself…oh yeah, you have a gun. Shoot his ass before he stomps your head in.
Raptorman says
There is no obligation to retreat in Califronia. That was decided long ago and there is a CA constitutional protection for anyone acting in self defense, preventing a violent felony from being committed.
The killing of one person by another may be justifiable when necessary to resist the attempt to commit a forcible and life-threatening crime, provided that a reasonable person in the same or similar situation would believe that (a) the person killed intended to commit a forcible and life-threatening crime; (b) there was imminent danger of such crime being accomplished; and (c) the person acted under the belief that such force was necessary to save himself or herself or another from death or a forcible and life-threatening crime. Murder, mayhem, rape and robbery are examples of forcible and life-threatening crimes. (Pen. Code, § 197.)
Known as the reasonable person rule it does not protect drunken idiots or when the threat no longer exist.
Gladys says
So if I am a drunken idiot, in my front yard pulling weeds, and I happen to have my licensed gun in my waistband…. when some big 6ft tall kid knocks me down and is choking me, can I shoot him in self defense? Or does my being drunk trump the crime?
Gladys says
how funny, I am being moderated!!!!
Told_ya_so aka Forewarned says
Get used to it Gladys, this site practices censorship.
Quigley says
Murder is Murder…an all to familiar scene in the Antelope Valley no matter how it reads!
Bob says
It’s hard to say it is unjustified. The kid went to someone elses home to fight and was shot for it. Chris was a threat at the time, however Victor’s mistake was walking forward and shooting again after Chris went backwards.
Without audio I do not know what Christopher was saying, it appears we only have family and friends of Chris saying what was said, and if he was threatening Victor with violence still, I would still consider him a threat.
dumbandblind says
This is what we need to protect us all from criminals:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/07/us/georgia-gun-requirement/index.html?hpt=us_c2