SAN BERNARDINO – Three men accused of murderer were found guilty in the killings of two teenagers, plus three counts of attempted murder in a 2011 Redlands shooting that had apparent revenge motives.
Anthony Legaspi, 20, who was thought to be the shooter, was convicted, along with Jose Lara, 30, and John David Salazar, 25, in San Bernardino County Superior Court in verdicts that were read on Tuesday afternoon.
On a Monday night shooting rampage that left teenagers Quinn McCaleb and Andrew Jackson dead, the suspects were also convicted in the attempted murders of Jordan Howard and Tequan Thomas.
During the evening hours on Jan. 5, 2011, five teenagers had congregated at a playground near an apartment complex, located on Oxford Dr., near Colton Ave. Gunfire rang out as the teenage victims were making plans for the night.
McCaleb, 17, was shot three times, tried to escape but collapsed and died on the scene. Jackson died a short time later at an area hospital.
Investigators dug into the case for over a year until, in March 2012, arrests were made in the case dubbed the Cinnamon Creek Apartment shootings.
Prosecutors presented evidence that the three suspects were members of the Varrio gang, a Redlands-based group that claimed that portion of the city as their territory. A fourth defendant, Adrian Powers, took a plea bargain to voluntary manslaughter and wound up testifying against the other suspects at the trail.
Claiming that Legaspi was the sole shooter, evidence was presented that Salazar drove the car the fled the area and that Lara had provided the gun.
Legaspi, who faces 220 years to life, had claimed that a group of black people tried to jump him earlier in the day. His shooting rampage was in retaliation. The two dead teens were black.
A fifth teenager, Antonio Puente, 16, was not injured.
Lara and Salazar, who face 176 years to life, were also convicted of street terrorism and Lara was convicted for being an accessory after the fact.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 20.
Read More:
Press Enterprise: 3 men guilty on all counts in teens’ slaying
Redlands Daily Facts: Cinnamon Creek trial nears end
