Los Angeles man convicted after killing 4-year-old boy
February 9th, 2010 - 5:40 am ICT by BNO NewsLOS ANGELES (BNO NEWS) – A Los Angeles man on Monday was convicted of murder after fatally shooting a 4-year-old boy in January 2009, prosecutors said.
Howard Astorga, 26, was convicted of one count each of first-degree murder and shooting at a vehicle. Jurors additionally found true allegations that the murder was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang and that the defendant personally and intentionally discharged a handgun, which caused death to Robert Lopez Jr.
Astorga, a member of “Diamond Street” gang whose moniker is “Doper”, had been playing football with fellow gang members in the middle of the street when a car drove past them at a high rate of speed. The defendant fired several shots from a .38 caliber semi-automatic handgun at the speeding vehicle.
The child, Robert, was shot in the chest by a stray bullet fired by Astorga. The boy, his sister, and cousins were walking to a nearby park to play.
Astorga faces a maximum prison term of 82 years to life.
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