2 Gang Members Get Death Penalty for 4 Murders Committed in 2000

April 21, 2005

Two Baldwin Park gang members responsible for a murderous crime spree that culminated in a shootout on the Santa Monica Pier were sentenced to death Wednesday — just as they said they wanted.

Oswaldo Amezcua, 30, and Joseph Conrad Flores, 34, became partners in crime in April 2000, shortly after their release from prison, prosecutors said.

They shot two teenage brothers who were riding on a bicycle, killing one of them, because they thought they were gang members, prosecutors said. They killed two more people and injured others in drive-by shootings. They set fire to a car and killed an accomplice by driving over him.

Then, on the night of July 3, 2000, police tracked the two suspects to the Santa Monica Pier and detained Flores. But Amezcua fled down the pier and barricaded himself in the arcade, using tourists as shields. The five-hour hostage crisis ended in a shootout that injured three officers and two bystanders.

"The people they killed were all unarmed. They were shot in the back. These defendants had no regard for human life," Deputy Dist. Atty. Darren Levine said.

After a four-week trial before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert Perry, a jury convicted them in March of four murders and dozens of other charges.

During the penalty phase of their trial, the pair forbade their lawyers from calling witnesses, conducting cross-examinations or pleading with jurors to spare their lives.

"Both of them wanted the death penalty, and they got it," said Zeke Perlo, who represented Amezcua. Perlo called Pelican Bay State Prison, where the pair would have been sent had they received life sentences, "a hellhole."

"Frankly, they would rather [go to] San Quentin. It's a much better life," Perlo said.

Flores' attorney, William Ringgold, could not be reached for comment.

Levine said the violence committed by the duo and their cold-heartedness sickened even veteran prosecutors. As the mother of the brothers who were shot while riding the bicycle tearfully testified, the defendants looked at her and laughed.

"They boasted about how they tortured and killed people," Levine said, adding that the trial to them "was almost entertainment. They wanted the notoriety of going to death row … going down in a macho way."
Copyright © 2005, The Los Angeles Times

you have to recognize that as ex-cons who wanted to become famous , they had a better shot at it by mass murdering than trying their luck at american idol.

hahahahhaaha

2 Gang Members Get Death Penalty for 4 Murders Committed in 2000

April 21, 2005

Two Baldwin Park gang members responsible for a murderous crime spree that culminated in a shootout on the Santa Monica Pier were sentenced to death Wednesday — just as they said they wanted.

Oswaldo Amezcua, 30, and Joseph Conrad Flores, 34, became partners in crime in April 2000, shortly after their release from prison, prosecutors said.

They shot two teenage brothers who were riding on a bicycle, killing one of them, because they thought they were gang members, prosecutors said. They killed two more people and injured others in drive-by shootings. They set fire to a car and killed an accomplice by driving over him.

Then, on the night of July 3, 2000, police tracked the two suspects to the Santa Monica Pier and detained Flores. But Amezcua fled down the pier and barricaded himself in the arcade, using tourists as shields. The five-hour hostage crisis ended in a shootout that injured three officers and two bystanders.

"The people they killed were all unarmed. They were shot in the back. These defendants had no regard for human life," Deputy Dist. Atty. Darren Levine said.

After a four-week trial before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert Perry, a jury convicted them in March of four murders and dozens of other charges.

During the penalty phase of their trial, the pair forbade their lawyers from calling witnesses, conducting cross-examinations or pleading with jurors to spare their lives.

"Both of them wanted the death penalty, and they got it," said Zeke Perlo, who represented Amezcua. Perlo called Pelican Bay State Prison, where the pair would have been sent had they received life sentences, "a hellhole."

"Frankly, they would rather [go to] San Quentin. It's a much better life," Perlo said.

Flores' attorney, William Ringgold, could not be reached for comment.

Levine said the violence committed by the duo and their cold-heartedness sickened even veteran prosecutors. As the mother of the brothers who were shot while riding the bicycle tearfully testified, the defendants looked at her and laughed.

"They boasted about how they tortured and killed people," Levine said, adding that the trial to them "was almost entertainment. They wanted the notoriety of going to death row … going down in a macho way."
Copyright © 2005, The Los Angeles Times

I would rather they got life without parole than the death pentlity. They both wanted death for good reason, the same reason I wish they hadnt gotten it. They would have their asses kicked every day while in prison..they must have known that. chicken ****s can kill innocent kids but cant take an asswhipping apparently!

the more ****ed up thing about all that, is they laughed at the kids mother, i cant imagine how she felt, but i bet it wasnt all that great getting laughed at like if her sons life was a joke, i seen these ****ers on the news, there *****s, my friends husband is in the same jail there in right now at Mans central, and he says those fools stay trying stupid **** even in jail.

the more ****ed up thing about all that, is they laughed at the kids mother, i cant imagine how she felt, but i bet it wasnt all that great getting laughed at like if her sons life was a joke, i seen these ****ers on the news, there *****s, my friends husband is in the same jail there in right now at Mans central, and he says those fools stay trying stupid **** even in jail.


OH God, thats too much! Laughing at the mom? :eek: ****ing monsters!

Gang members should be treated as terrorists... All of those ****ers deserve to get ****ing life.

PS: 50 cent should be shot in the face for making horrible music.

Gracias.

yeah there stupid, the other night i was watching the news clip from there last court date, and they were talking to each other, ignoring the judge, they where laughing at each others jokes and all kinds of ****.. those mother ****ers have loose screws in there head, big time.

yeah there stupid, the other night i was watching the news clip from there last court date, and they were talking to each other, ignoring the judge, they where laughing at each others jokes and all kinds of ****.. those mother ****ers have loose screws in there head, big time.

Makes me think it was all for show..just to piss off the judge enough to ensure the dealth penality. It's obvious that theyre cowards, and daily asswhippings in prison is not something that they want. Death aint a picnic either..but once it's done, it's done. Only die once..or, get your ass kicked every day (more or less) til you die. Easy choice for them I guess.

oh yeah they did it to push the judges buttons for sure..They dont wanna become anyones ***** in prison, so they will be someones ***** on death row, what do they care, all them *****es are gonna die anyways, might as well get and give it up the ass while there alive. lol ****

This world is never gonna be a safe place to live with bastards like them roaming the streets and parks. The good news is that justice was served, and we have 2 less killers to watch our back for! :mad:

The problem with people like this is that they are everywhere. Down here we have notorious neighborhoods like the Magnolia projects, Jax Quarters, and "the Bottoms". My ex-girlfriend is from Chicago and we've been to Cabrini Green several times to score some weed. The same **** these two lunatics did happens everyday in these neighborhoods. It's a shame how the world can be so cold sometimes.

The problem with people like this is that they are everywhere. Down here we have notorious neighborhoods like the Magnolia projects, Jax Quarters, and "the Bottoms". My ex-girlfriend is from Chicago and we've been to Cabrini Green several times to score some weed. The same **** these two lunatics did happens everyday in these neighborhoods. It's a shame how the world can be so cold sometimes.
Running around with a gun acting crazy, jumping on people and shooting and stabbing folks is the only real power or notoriety any of these people will ever experience. The american dream isn't for everybody.

They should be killed immediately. Its ****ed up because in Cali it takes like 25 years for someone to go through all their appeals and finally get executed. We need to streamline the process.

I hope Scott Peterson beats their asses when they get to Quentin. :D

Stupid ****ers like this get it good in the inside. The thing is that even if they do not go with the court of appeals it will take no less than a year to get them in the chair or chamber.

Most mates know if you are just a punk or a real BIG DOG. If you are just some punk trying to be all crazy and **** and you get put in for **** like this, you pay big time. You will be someones *****, you will not eat at chow, and your life is misserable. Most mates want their freedom and hate people like that for ****ing up for being dumb.

yeah i was at Santa Monica beach last night where all that **** happened, and the have security all over the pier now.. its better that way.

yeah i was at Santa Monica beach last night where all that **** happened, and the have security all over the pier now.. its better that way.

Hola, beba! Cómo estás?

im doing good, how about you???? Have you cheated on me yet??? lol

im doing good, how about you???? Have you cheated on me yet??? lol

Never on this forum.

good job haha