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SANTA ANA (CNS) - A 25-year-old man was found guilty Thursday of a gang- related fatal shooting of a 36-year-old man outside an apartment complex in Santa Ana six years ago.
Alexis Ascencion of Santa Ana was convicted of first-degree murder and participating in gang activity with special circumstances of gang activity and sentencing enhancements for discharge of a gun causing death. Ascencion was scheduled to be sentenced April 5.
Co-defendant Felix Martinez Vargas of Santa Ana pleaded guilty Sept. 2, 2022, to voluntary manslaughter and was scheduled to be sentenced March 8 in the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.
Both men were charged in connection with the killing of 36-year-old Mariano Labra Ramos of Santa Ana.
Vargas testified in Ascencion's first trial in July of 2022. A mistrial was declared when jurors deadlocked 11-1 in favor of guilt.
The defendants -- who included two boys, ages 15 and 16 -- drove into rival gang territory when they saw two men in front of an apartment complex between 1913 and 1909 W. Myrtle St., according to a trial brief from prosecutors in Ascencion's case. Ascencion asked Vargas, the driver, to stop before Ascencion jumped out and opened fire on the victim, wounding him in the leg with two shots, prosecutors said.
A main artery was struck and Ramos, who had no gang ties, bled to death, prosecutors said.
Ascencion ran back to the car and they fled the area, prosecutors said.
Police found the vehicle involved in the shooting just before 9 that night and stopped the driver.