Detective details retaliatory gang killing at Pomona motel

Albert Martinez, left, reportedly told police that the Feb. 28 incident at Motel 6 was meant to avenge the killing of Carlos Espinosa, right. Photos from MySpace.

POMONA -- It had been 24 days since Carlos Espinosa was gunned down on Mission Boulevard.

On Feb. 28, three associates of the alleged gang member set out to avenge his death by killing Jorge Sandoval, who they believed had a hand in organizing the hit on Espinosa.

Sandoval survived the men's attack by seeking shelter in the bathroom of his Garey Avenue motel room.

But his girlfriend, who was in bed at the time of the incident, did not.

Nelssa Tovar, 31, was shot once in the head and killed, reportedly because one of the assailants didn't want to leave any witnesses.

This sketch of Tovar's killing was provided by a Pomona police detective who testified during a recent preliminary hearing for the three men charged with murdering Tovar.

The three defendants -- Albert Martinez, 25, Florencio Reyes, 17, and Cesar Sierra, 31 -- were in custody during the July 21 hearing in Pomona Superior Court, where Detective Mark McCann detailed statements the defendants and Sandoval made to police about the incident.

Martinez, an admitted gang member, told police that he was tapped by a gang associate to kill Sandoval in response to Espinosa's killing, McCann testified.

Espinosa was shot at about 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 4 at the corner of Mission and Buena Vista Avenue in Pomona. He died that day during surgery at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, police said.

There have been no arrests made or charges filed in Espinosa's killing, said Deputy District Attorney Bjorn Dodd.

Martinez had fronted Sandoval methamphetamine to sell, and had yet to be repaid.

He, Reyes and Sierra visited Sandoval's room at Motel 6, located just north of the 60 Freeway, under the guise of collecting on the debt, Martinez told police, according to McCann's testimony.

Once in Sandoval's room, Martinez pulled out handgun, pointed it at Sandoval, and told him to hand over his cell phone, wallet, drugs, and demanded Tovar's wallet, Sandoval told police, McCann testified.

Sandoval gave Martinez his phone and some money, he told police. Then Martinez accused Sandoval of orchestrating Espinosa's killing, Sandoval told police.

When Martinez brought up Espinosa, Sandoval anticipated the worst. He told police he ran from the main area of the motel room to the bathroom.

One the way there, Sandoval saw Reyes reach for his waistband, he told police.

Sandoval closed the bathroom door behind him, laid down on the floor, and placed his feet against the bathroom door to hold it shut, he told police, McCann testified.

"About that time (Sandoval) started hearing gunshots," McCann testified, according to a transcript of the hearing. "He could hear his girlfriend, victim Tovar, screaming in the front room."

Martinez told police he fired his handgun into the bathroom door, intending only to scare Sandoval, McCann testified. Sandoval was not hurt during the incident.

Police later found seven bullet holes in the bathroom door, and seven shell casings on the floor nearby.

When Martinez turned away from the bathroom, he told police he saw Tovar shot and killed on the bedroom, with Reyes holding his gun nearby, McCann testified.

Martinez told police he asked Reyes why he shot the woman.

"No witnesses," Reyes reportedly responded, according to McCann.

Police located Martinez and Sierra because Sandoval knew them, and he was able to provide their names to police. Sandoval later identified Reyes through a photo lineup.

Prosecutors believe Sierra went to the motel with Martinez and Reyes as a lookout for a Pomona street gang, to confirm that Sandoval's killing was successfully carried out.

Sierra told police he had no knowledge of the plan to kill Sandoval, and went there purchase drugs, McCann testified.

At the conclusion of the July 21 hearing, Judge George Genesta held Martinez, Reyes and Sierra to answer on charges of murder and attempted murder.

The three defendants are next scheduled to appear in Pomona Superior Court on Tuesday for an arraignment hearing.

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