Sante Fe Springs man faces life in prison without parole for 2009 double-murder

NORWALK -- A Santa Fe Springs man will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole later this month when he's sentenced for the murder of his boss and co-worker at a Vernon lumber yard in 2009, authorities said.
A Norwalk Superior Court jury convicted Saul Gastelum Moreno, 53, of two counts of first-degree murder July 19, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said.
He fatally shot his 55-year-old boss, Alan Bohnhoff of Whittier, and 31-year-old co-worker, Jaime Sanchez of Bell Gardens, on May 18, 2009, during a work-related dispute, officials said.
Moreno had no criminal record or history of violence prior to the double-murder, he said, and had worked closely with both victims for more than five years, Deputy District Attorney Islam Ramadan said.
"Nobody could have ever imagined that this man would do this," Ramadan said.
He described the motive in the slaying as what appeared to be fairly normal "workplace politics."
"He had been passed over for a promotion in 2006," the prosecutor said. "The person he was passed over for was (Sanchez)."
An employee of Bohnhoff Lumber Co. for more than five years, Moreno felt he was more experienced and qualified for the promotion than Sanchez, Ramadan said.
The reason he was not promoted, Ramadan said, was that, "He had a problem getting along with other coworkers and customers. He wasn't a people person."
Additionally, Moreno felt he was being given extra work that should have been assigned to Sanchez, Ramadan said.
he added that Moreno was heard talking about shooting Bohnhoff and his son months before the killing.
On the morning of the murders, Moreno showed up to work with a handgun on his persona and wearing five shirts and 11 pairs of thermal underwear, Ramadan said. The reason for the strange dress was unknown, but the prosecutor said he theorized either it was meant as a sort of homemade "armor," to help him change his appearance as he fled authorities or even to create grounds for an insanity defense in court.
After Moreno felt that he was again assigned extra work, "He made a comment to the affect of 'things are going to change, I'm not the same man today,'" Ramadan said.
Minutes later, he said, Moreno shot Bohnhoff and Sanchez to death.
Prosecutors initially charged Moreno with the attempted murder of Bohnhoff's son as well, alleging that Moreno tried to shoot him but failed because his gun jammed, but a judge dismissed the charge.
He was also convicted of felony evasion of police due to a high-speed, dangerous pursuit he led police on before his arrest the day of the killings.
The special circumstance of multiple murder made Moreno eligible for the death penalty, however District Attorney's officials decided not to pursue capital punishment in the case.