2 Garden Grove Gang Members Get Life For Killing Rival And Girlfriend
SANTA ANA (CBS) — Two Garden Grove gang members will likely spend the rest of their lives in prison for gunning down a rival and his girlfriend in Garden Grove in 2007.
Luis Alberto Ramirez, 19, and Jose Roberto Armendariz, 20, were convicted Sept. 27 of first- and second-degree murder with sentencing enhancements for using guns and gang activity.
Orange County Superior Court Judge William Froeberg sentenced Ramirez to life in prison without the possibility of parole and Armendariz was sentenced to 90 years to life in prison, Deputy District Attorney Kim Doyle said.
Ramirez, who was the shooter, and Armendariz went out with co-defendants Luis Menchaca and Diana Estrada just after midnight Aug. 27 and came across rival gang member Oscar Manuel Martinez.
Martinez, then 24, lived in Garden Grove, with his girlfriend, Michelle Nicole Miller, Doyle said.
Ramirez opened fire on Martinez and Miller at Pearce Street and the Garden Grove Freeway pedestrian overpass after Martinez insulted them, Doyle said.
Conflicting testimony was given during the trial about why the group went out that night, Doyle said.
"There was some testimony they were just going to get something to eat and there was some testimony they were going out tagging," Doyle said.
Ramirez faced a jury before on the charges, but a jury could not reach a verdict in 2009, Doyle said. In the most recent trial, though, Doyle was able to prosecute Ramirez and Armandariz together and could tell jurors about prior gang shootings they were involved in, Doyle said.
Armendariz's attorneys portrayed him during the trial as a good student who was interested in music and was trying to distance himself from his gang friends when the shooting occurred.
Miller's mother told the judge today that she forgave her daughter's killers.
"She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time," Doyle said of Miller.
Armendariz was "eloquent and articulate" when he made a statement to the judge Friday. He saved harsh criticism for Doyle and investigators, saying he was railroaded during the trial, Doyle said.
Estrada pleaded guilty Oct. 29 to assault with a firearm with a sentencing enhancement for gang activity and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Menchaca, who testified for the prosecution against Armendariz and Ramirez, is next scheduled to appear in court next Friday. He is charged with murder, with sentencing enhancements for gang activity and use of a gun.
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