On Sept. 19, jurors also found Jaime Alberto Espinoza guilty of five counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and one count of shooting at an occupied vehicle.
Deputy District Attorney Thomas Trainor of the Hardcore Gang Division said the jury also found that Espinoza inflicted great bodily injury, used a handgun and committed the crimes in affiliation with a criminal street gang.
Co-defendant Fernando Albarran, also 23, pleaded no contest last August to one count of attempted murder and was sentenced to 17 years to life behind bars.
The case stems from an incident that occurred on Dec. 19, 2014.
Espinoza was involved in a verbal altercation with two individuals on a street near Palmdale High School before the two individuals got into a car with three other victims, two of which were high school students, the prosecutor said. According to trial testimony, Espinoza then flagged down Albarran, got into his car and began to follow the vehicle with the two individuals and three others aboard.
When the victim’s car stopped to drop the two individuals off at their house, Espinoza drove up alongside and fired a shot into the car. The bullet struck the driver on the shoulder and hit the driver’s sister in the front passenger seat in the head. She remains unable to use her legs and has limited speech as a result of the injury, the prosecutor added.
Albarran and Espinoza, both of Palmdale, were arrested several hours later, according to police, who characterized it as a gang-related shooting.
Espinoza had multiple prior arrests and was sentenced to 30-day jail stints at least twice on misdemeanor charges, according to Los Angeles County jail and court records.
The case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Editor’s note: Story updated to include additional details from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
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TM says
The sad truth is, people shoot people for no reason these days, over something so minor or ridiculous , it’s sad that people depend on guns to solve their problems, instead of dealing with it on their own… Probably over a disagreement or opinion ….So stupid , I hate this generation, they are literally screwing up the future…
callingitasitis says
Bad Boyz with guns never works out. Now my question is, will they really serve that time or get out on good behavior credits, time served and federal court mandate in 25 years. After everyone in the public has forgot why they were convicted. Mexican Mafia soldiers reporting for duty.
Joemama says
Lock that beaner up
OG says
Yeah Baby – Get these illegals off the streets and put them where they belong with no return
Get real says
He’s not an illegal you racist!!
Uncle Sam says
He just made himself illegal. After what he did – we don’t need this kind of people here.
If he has a green card or even naturalized citizenship – it should be revoked.
Tim Scott says
LOL…revocation of citizenship as sentencing. There’s a new and totally unconstitutional concept. Way to go Uncle, you’ve hit a new low.
Uncle Sam says
Naturalized US citizens can be stripped off their citizenship, nothing “unconstitutional” about it.
If he was born in US – then he can keep his citizenship for the whole 100 years he got.
Regarding your stupidity – let’s wait till you get shot while driving. Maybe you will change your opinion about illegal criminals.
Tim Scott says
LOL…when all else fails, call names and create highly unlikely scenarios. Don’t bother trying to dispute the facts, which are that you guys who yammer about “making America great” routinely demonstrate that you haven’t the first clue what America even is. If the calls for unconstitutional actions are any indicator, the people who don’t deserve to be citizens are on your side.
Don't drop the soap says
Good riddance..
Shane Falco says
Lock them up in the roach motel…