Gang Member Gets Death in Hate Crime Murder of Teen Girl
Jonathan Fajardo listens as his sentence is read. (KTLA-TV / April 22, 2011)
LOS ANGELES (KTLA) -- A Latino gang member convicted in the racially-motivated killing of a teenage girl and the murder of one other person in the Harbor-Gateway area was sentenced to death on Friday.
Jonathan Fajardo, 22, was convicted last September of first-degree murder in the December 2006 shooting death of 14-year-old Cheryl Green and the stabbing death of Christopher Ash two weeks later.
Jurors also found that Fajardo intentionally killed Green, who was black, because of her race.
Prosecutors said the shooting was part of an ongoing "turf war" between black and Latino gangs.
They said Fajardo walked to the edge of his gang's territory and fired into a group of black teens.
Additionally, Fajardo was found guilty of the special circumstance of murdering a potential witness in connection with Ash's death.
Prosecutors argued that gang members thought Ash might have been talking to police about Green's murder.
They said Fajardo and other members of the 204th Street gang took turns attacking Ash.
Defense attorneys had argued that Green's murder was a "tragic accident" rather than a hate crime.
They also said that Fajardo was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of Ash's murder.
Fajardo will now be sent to San Quentin's death row.
23-year-old Daniel Aguilar was also convicted of first-degree murder in Ash's slaying. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
24-year-old Jose Covarrubias was also charged in the crime. He testified during the trials of Fajardo and Aguilar, and is expected to get 22 years in prison.
Two other men, 33-year-old Robert Gonzalez and 34-year-old Raul Silva, are still awaiting trial.
23-year-old Ernesto Alcarez is awaiting trial in Green's murder.
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