A 28-year-old man convicted of first-degree murder and other charges stemming from what authorities called a botched drug deal in North Long Beach that left one man dead and another injured was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Superior Court Judge Laura Laesecke imposed the term on Mark Cooper, who was found guilty March 24 of the Jan. 19, 2013, shooting death of Jose Luis Vidal, 24.
Jurors also found true the special circumstance allegations of murder during the commission of a robbery and murder during the commission of a burglary, along with convicting Cooper of four counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of attempted murder and one count each of assault with a firearm and first-degree residential burglary.
The District Attorney’s Office had opted earlier not to seek the death penalty against Cooper.
Two others, including the gunman, are still being sought in connection with the crime, said Deputy District Attorney Rachel Hardiman.
— City News Service