Men convicted of Covina murder
COVINA -- A jury convicted two men Friday for fatally shooting a Covina man last year, authorities said.
Jeremy Michael Vindiola, 24, of West Covina and Wilson Omar Alfaro, 27, of Fontana were found guilty in the June 17, 2008 shooting death of 23-year-old Edward Galvan, Covina police Sgt. Trevor Gaumer said in a written statement.
"The jury deliberated for approximately three hours and found both Vindiola and Alfaro guilty of first-degree murder," the statement said.
The men allegedly shot and killed Galvan as he gathered with several other people in front of an apartment building in the 100 block of North Vecino Drive.
Authorities believed both the suspects and victim had gang ties, though family members of Galvan denied he was involved with gangs.
Vindiola was captured eleven days after the shooting as he got into a parked car in Covina, Gaumer said.
A multi-agency task force arrested Alfaro at an auto dealership in Montclair a few weeks later, he added.
A third suspect, a 19-year-old West Covina man, was initially arrested in connection with the slaying but later released after officials declined to file charges against him, authorities said.
Both Vindiola and Alfaro face the possibility of life in prison when they're sentenced in August, officials said.
Jeremy Michael Vindiola, 24, of West Covina and Wilson Omar Alfaro, 27, of Fontana were found guilty in the June 17, 2008 shooting death of 23-year-old Edward Galvan, Covina police Sgt. Trevor Gaumer said in a written statement.
"The jury deliberated for approximately three hours and found both Vindiola and Alfaro guilty of first-degree murder," the statement said.
The men allegedly shot and killed Galvan as he gathered with several other people in front of an apartment building in the 100 block of North Vecino Drive.
Authorities believed both the suspects and victim had gang ties, though family members of Galvan denied he was involved with gangs.
Vindiola was captured eleven days after the shooting as he got into a parked car in Covina, Gaumer said.
A multi-agency task force arrested Alfaro at an auto dealership in Montclair a few weeks later, he added.
A third suspect, a 19-year-old West Covina man, was initially arrested in connection with the slaying but later released after officials declined to file charges against him, authorities said.
Both Vindiola and Alfaro face the possibility of life in prison when they're sentenced in August, officials said.
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
Too bad the conviction did not include the smell of burning flesh
YAH IT IS TOO BAD HUH???? BAD U KNOW WAT ITS TOO BAD HE IS DEAD!!!!!!!!! DONT YOU THINK????? WE LOVE YOU TIO!!!! YOULL BE OUT SOON