Photo: Gabriel De La Torre
DUARTE – One can only imagine the evening of August 19, 2016 started out pleasant enough, with neighbors and friends drinking alcohol in a backyard and having good times.
32-year-old Gabriel De La Torre was the host, and he invited friends as well as his neighbor, 42-year-old Luis Santillan Valdes, over for some relaxation.
During the course of the evening, Valdes became angry at something that was said at the gathering, as the group was laughing at him. Valdes left, but not for long. He returned with a gun and shot De La Torre dead. He also shot another man, and pointed his gun at least five other people as he left.
The subsequent 911 call and response gave police a description of Valdes’ car and son he was located. At first he would not pull over, but at the 210 freeway off-ramp in Azusa he was arrested.
On January 26 Valdes was convicted of first-degree murder, attempted murder, fleeing from police and assault with a firearm. Then on Friday he was sentenced to 91 years and 8 months in prison for his crimes.
