ALHAMBRA (CNS) – A Monrovia gang member who shot a 16-year-old boy in
2008, leaving the victim paralyzed, was sentenced today to 40 years to life in
prison.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Candace Beason imposed the sentence on
23-year-old Jimmy Santana after prosecutor Stacie Mayoras read a statement in
which the victim addressed the defendant.
“Jimmy, I hope that you can become a better person during this whole
experience,” the young man wrote. “Life does not end here for you. You can
still do good to the world and your family.”
Santana was convicted in February of attempted murder, shooting from a
motor vehicle and assault. The jury also found true gun and gang allegations.
According to prosecutors, Santana pulled up in a car alongside the
victim, who was riding a bicycle, shouted a gang-related statement and then
shot him.
The victim wrote that he had forgiven Santana. “You see, if I would
have wasted a single second of my life hating you, then I would have been
destroying precious time that has been granted to me.”
He said he had “gone through a tremendous amount of physical pain, I
spent a great portion of my teenage years being hospitalized, and I have not
walked since the shooting. With all of that said, I have still continued to
live as normally as possible. I go to college, I have my own apartment …”

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading …