A 26-year-old felon was convicted Monday of first-degree murder in the shooting and stabbing death of a maintenance worker near a Target store parking lot in Van Nuys.
Jurors deliberated about an hour before finding Erick Renteria guilty of the murder charge and a firearm possession count, and also found true an allegation that he personally used a handgun causing great bodily injury.
The victim, 48-year-old Francisco Miguel, was part of a three-person crew pressure-washing the store parking lot at Sepulveda Boulevard and Hatteras Street. Miguel went to check on a truck near the lot and was sitting inside when he was shot and stabbed on July 22, 2014.
“He was just a hard-working guy who appeared to be at the wrong place at the wrong time,” Los Angeles police Detective Robert Bub said shortly following the killing.
One of the other workers heard the attack and called 911. When officers arrived, Renteria was standing outside the truck and stabbing Miguel, according to police.
Renteria faces up to 50 years to life in prison, with sentencing set for Jan. 27.
–City News Service