Murder Trial Tied to Spat Over Girl, Vandalized Car Begins Today
By Matt Coker, Monday, Nov. 23 2009 @ 6:22AM
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Categories: Crime & Sex
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Luis Rivera, 22, had told people in his Lake Forest neighborhood that Edgar Calvillo, Santos Escamilla, 21, of Santa Ana, and Alfredo Cruz, 23, of Aliso Viejo, had vandalized his car over a dispute about Cruz's girlfriend.
According to the Orange County District Attorney's office account:
A week later, on the evening of March 20, 2008, Calvillo, Escamilla and Cruz waited in a parked car outside Rivera's home, got out when Rivera arrived and confronted him. As Calvillo pointed a semiautomatic rifle at Rivera, Escamilia punched Rivera. A neighbor broke up the attack, and the three men got back in their car.
Calvillo allegedly fired several shots at Rivera as the car was driving off. One bullet struck Rivera and, after hearing the commotion and running outside, Rivera's mother arrived in time to cradle her son as he died in her arms. Rivera was the father of a 17-month-old boy.
Calvillo, who is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder with sentencing enhancements for murder by drive-by shooting and the personal discharge of a firearm causing death, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if he is convicted.
Escamilla and Cruz have each been charged with one felony count of murder that could fetch them 25 years to life in the pen if they are found guilty. Their trial is scheduled to being on Jan. 11, 2010.
The OCDA announcement follows:
November 20, 2009
MAN FACES MURDER TRIAL FOR SHOOTING AND KILLING VICTIM OUTSIDE OF LAKE FOREST HOME AFTER DISPUTE OVER GIRLFRIEND AND VANDALIZED CAR
SANTA ANA - A 21-year-old man faces trial on Monday for shooting and murdering a Lake Forest man outside of his home with two co-defendants after a dispute over a girlfriend and a vandalized car. Edgar Calvillo, Santa Ana, is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder with sentencing enhancements for murder by drive-by shooting and the personal discharge of a firearm causing death. If convicted, he faces a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Opening statements are expected to begin Monday, Nov. 23, 2009, at 10:30 a.m., in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Co-defendants Santos Escamilla, 21, Santa Ana, and Alfredo Cruz, 23, Aliso Viejo, are each charged with one felony count of murder. Each faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison if convicted. Escamilla and Cruz are being held on $1 million bail and are scheduled for jury trial Jan. 11, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-35, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
On the evening of March 20, 2008, Calvillo, Escamilla, and Cruz are accused of driving to the Lake Forest home of 22-year-old Luis Rivera and parking outside of the house to wait for the victim. Calvillo is accused of bringing a semi-automatic rifle with him in the car. The defendants are accused of waiting to confront Rivera because the victim had told people in the neighborhood that Calvillo, Escamilla, and Cruz had vandalized his car a week earlier over a dispute about Cruz's girlfriend.
When Rivera arrived at his house, the three defendants are accused of getting out of their car and approaching the victim. Calvillo is accused of pointing the firearm at Rivera as Escamilla punched him. A neighbor came out of his home and tried to diffuse the attack, and the three defendants are accused of getting back in their car to leave.
As the defendants began to drive away, Calvillo is accused of pointing the firearm out of the car window and shooting several times at Rivera, hitting him once. The victim's mother heard the shot from inside the house and ran out to find Rivera lying outside. The victim, who was father to a 17-month-old boy, died at the scene in his mother's arms.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Ebrahim Baytieh of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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