Two gang members were convicted Wednesday of the January 2009 murder of a 19-year-old Carson man who was shot in the back as he was walking home from school.
Luis Torres, 22, and Darnell Jones, 21, were convicted of first-degree murder in the slaying of Michael Owens, who was shot multiple times in Compton about 2:15 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2009, according to the district attorney’s office.
Owens was not a gang member and was wearing headphones when he was targeted, according to Deputy District Attorney Tony Aguilar. The victim’s father had just returned home from military duty when his son was killed on 132nd Street at Riddle Avenue.
Torres is facing a maximum 75-year-to-life prison term, while Jones is facing up to 50 years to life behind bars, according to the district attorney’s office. Both men are set to be sentenced July 19 by Compton Superior Court Judge Eleanor J. Hunter.
A third defendant, Ronald Armstrong, 24, pleaded guilty last October to one count each of manslaughter and assault with a firearm, and is facing a 15-year-to-life sentence.
