Three individuals were convicted on Friday for the murder of a 21-year-old man. The prosecutor argued that the victim had been mistakenly targeted due to one defendant’s incorrect belief that his adult daughter had been assaulted by the victim.
The jury in downtown Los Angeles found Stephen Anthony Heard, Johnny Sierra Velasquez, and Jesus Delgado guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The attack on Joshua Rodriguez took place in a Claremont apartment on August 27, 2015, and his body was discovered in Walnut 11 days later.
In addition to the murder charges, the jury also confirmed the special circumstance allegation of murder while lying in wait and the personal use of firearms by all three defendants. Heard was also found to have personally used zip ties.
However, the panel rejected the special circumstance allegations of murder during the commission of a kidnapping and torture.
Rodriguez, a resident of Pomona, was assaulted while he slept in a Claremont apartment. He was found dead with zip ties around his neck and wrists, and the autopsy revealed that he had been strangled.
Deputy District Attorney Phil Stirling informed the jury that Heard, who is affiliated with a gang, recruited other gang members and associates to help locate and attack Rodriguez. Heard had received permission from a prison-based gang to kill Rodriguez, who belonged to a separate gang. This was based on his mistaken belief that Rodriguez had assaulted his daughter.
In his closing argument, Stirling emphasized that vigilante justice can lead to errors and presented the “overwhelming” evidence of intent to kill. He also highlighted the fact that Heard’s daughter had informed her father that Rodriguez was not responsible for the attack against her.
Heard’s defense attorney, Christopher Scherer, argued that there was no forensic evidence linking his client to the crime scene. He portrayed the witnesses as unreliable individuals seeking personal gain.
Velasquez’s attorney, Steve Meister, characterized the case as a personal matter rather than a gang-related one, stating that Velasquez was innocent of the charges filed against him.
Meanwhile, Delgado’s attorney, Daniel Nardoni, affirmed that his client had no intention of killing Joshua Rodriguez. He argued that Delgado was not involved in any gang and had no prior knowledge of the victim.
The three defendants are now facing life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Sentencing is scheduled for September 15 before Superior Court Judge George G. Lomeli.
Additionally, four other individuals pleaded guilty or no contest to lesser crimes in exchange for reduced sentences.
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