LOS ANGELES – A 21-year-old man was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus multiple life terms for the murder of a good Samaritan in Canyon Country, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.
Diamonte Jerome McGhee of Canyon Country was found guilty Oct. 30, 2014 of one count each of first-degree murder and second-degree robbery, four counts of attempted murder and five counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, according to Deputy District Attorney Bradley Lieberman.
The jury found true a special circumstance allegation that the murder occurred during the commission of a robbery. And McGhee also was found to have personally fired the handgun during the murder and attempted murder.
Eric Michael Edwards, 21, of Lancaster was found guilty of one count each of first-degree murder and second-degree robbery and four counts each of attempted murder and assault with a semi-automatic firearm. Edwards was sentenced to 30 years to life in state prison plus an additional four life terms on April 9.
Branden Trevaughn Higgs, 20, of Lancaster pleaded no contest to one count of voluntary manslaughter and two counts of attempted murder on April 15 and was immediately sentenced to 16 years and eight months in state prison.
The convictions stem from an incident that occurred Oct. 31, 2011, in Canyon Country.
Alejandro Sánchez-Tórrez was with his 7-year-old son when he witnessed the three co-defendants beating and robbing a victim, the prosecutor said. When Sánchez-Tórrez rushed to the victim’s help, McGhee shot Sánchez-Tórrez in the chest, killing him in front of his son, the prosecutor added.
McGhee then shot the robbery victim on the leg, Lieberman said. The robbery victim survived his injuries.
The case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
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TakeBackTheCity... eh, forgetit. says
When you see someone actively being assaulted and robbed… all you should be doing is calling the police. You don’t bring fists to a gunfight.
Cali Palmdale says
Why do this F— n Criminals even get a trial just put them down to sleep why does the government have to chose for me and use my hard earned tax money on keeping them alive they don’t have to work pay bills free meals. We need to change the laws if there is clear evidence that points to them or any major crime including rape child molesters they should lose there chance of having any trial or court just take them out. But its a business for the court system the more crazy people the more money they make. Animals like the ones on these story will never change they just want to get money by killing stealing I’m sure they will be free in 10-20 years to kill again. And lately it seems like they have more rights than the average citizen
Tim Scott says
No, as usual despite your fascist whining they have THE SAME rights as the rest of the citizens. They had a trial because THAT IS HOW we determine that someone is a criminal. We don’t use “Cali Palmdale the fascist says so” as justification to just “put people to sleep.” This is good for you, because if it was just a citizen saying so that got people put to sleep you wouldn’t see the sunrise, because your fascist views are more dangerous to society as a whole than someone committing the occasional murder is.
As to why we are locking them up instead of killing them…it has been demonstrated repeatedly that a single death row inmate costs more than hundreds of man years of incarceration, so consider it a savings for your “hard earned tax dollars” and quit your belly aching.
Cali Palmdale says
Tim Scott The (Ex Con -Criminal Defender) these people will never learn and no need to waste so much money Firing Squad will do. you feel bad for these thugs killed a man in front of his small son now how can someone like that still be alive how low will you go defending this criminals.
Tim Scott says
I hope that if you ever get your fascist dream fulfilled and no trial death squads are roaming the streets the first person that catches their eye is you. Now THAT would be justice.
Cali Palmdale says
OHHH no you hope that happens to me I think I have more chances of getting mugged by Ex Cons like you than by law enforcement I’m good in that part but like you said you hope something bad happens to me I don’t have a criminal mind like you so. I HOPE you never get mugged or house Brocken into or have one of your kids raped by one of those criminals out there you defend with your life.
Tim Scott says
If you get the magical land of no trials that you hope for what makes you think I won’t be in charge of one of the death squads?
Lady Liberty says
Tim Scott is a liberal. All the rights are for criminals. In liberal land there are no bad people. There is always an excuse for bad behavior. To much sugar, bad childhood, economic challenges and any other thing that puts the blame on someone else. In liberal land no one takes responsibility for their own behavior.
Tim Scott says
Actually, rights don’t protect criminals, they protect non-criminals.
Your right to a trial might well keep you out of prison. A criminal’s right to a trial won’t keep them out of prison.
Your right to an attorney might put you on an even footing when a prosecutor is trying to convict you. A criminal’s attorney is most likely going to make the best deal they can and limit the time their client spends in prison, but won’t be able to keep them out.
Your right to confront your accusers will probably keep you from going to prison as a result of false accusations. A criminal’s right to face their accusers will lead to them facing accusations based on what they actually did.
I don’t support the protection of rights because I’m a liberal, I support it because I don’t want innocent people going to jail…even if those innocent people are so stupid that they think they don’t need rights.
Eric says
This isn’t a Liberal/Conservative issue, despite what those with the low IQ tend to try to pitch.
It is a HUMAN RIGHTS issue. The lack of interest shown in that, especially around here, is disgusting. Yes, they are criminals. There is plenty of good reasoning for the system we use, and if you don’t believe so, maybe you should go and read up exactly WHY we use this system.
The very kind of things half of you advocate is why the boats sailed across the tub in the first place. I don’t want to live in a country where we summarily execute those charged with a crime, especially if they aren’t even afforded the right to defend themselves.
As an aside; I sense that most of you advocating that people be “put down,” have never seen a life extinguished in person, much less had to deal with the responsibility of doing it yourself. It’s always easy to suggest when you’ve never done the work yourself.
LucyV says
Sure sounds like Tim Scott is a true American with at least a rudimentary understanding of the United States Constitution and how it protects those who never dreamed they might need its unique shield.
At the end of the day, this is not North Korea or some such.
Cali Palmdale says
You are 1000% right there’s always an excuse. To make people feel bad for them. —-And to Eric msg below I have witness someone killed by a thug criminal just for no reason I front of there family and guess what the killer was out in 7-9 years and the family for life with no DAD now is that fair?
Tim Scott says
LOL…1000% right…fascists may not understand math, but they definitely stick together.
William says
@Lady Liberty
Has moll flounder taken up residence in your head, Lady Liberty?
Same old, same old. And, more same old.
Think, Lady, think. Don’t just repeat what others say.
BTW. Calling someone a ‘liberal’ is a compliment in case you didn’t know that. Look it up.
Truth says
Working man was already supporting these guys and the moms and kids and parents,You just have to move on and not think about it,Kinda like dogs you have to support them too or they will die.
AV says
It sounds good but in North Korea – China and other countries people with a criminal mind think 10 -20 times before committing a crime if they get caught they know they are done. Here in the US its like a game for thugs they know they will get free meals 3 times a day don’t worrie about anything but wake up go to sleep eat and take a crap and they will be out in few years with a nice sum of money free bus ticket that is paradise for these crazy criminals. there should be a change and im sure these guys where mugging the man to get drug money not to feed there family.
death penalty says
Now our taxes dollars get to harbor these POS. The state needs to utilize the death penalty and PUT IT TO USE.
K says
Worthless pieces of crap. Third one should be locked away for life too.
Tim Scott says
I agree, but that is how plea deals work. There has to be some incentive to take a deal, or everyone will demand the expense of a trial on the “why not?” plan.
Tim Scott says
Appropriate.