Two gang members accused of killing a young woman in a 2005 drive-by attack in Indio were targeting rivals when they allegedly shot the victim, a prosecutor said today.
But an attorney for one defendant said his client acted out of self-defense.
Anthony Lares and Jessie Sambrano, both 24, could face the death penalty if convicted in the Aug. 12, 2005, drive-by shooting that killed 19-year-old Vanessa Torres and wounded several others, including three children.
They are charged with one count each of first-degree murder and shooting at an occupied dwelling, and two counts each of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, along with a special circumstance allegation of killing for the benefit of a criminal street gang.
Deputy District Attorney Rodney Tethal told jurors in his opening statement that as Torres was leaving a family gathering at 83062 Ruby St. with her boyfriend, Lares and another gang member, Daniel Torres, 24, opened fire from a vehicle that Sambrano was driving.
"They saw an old enemy in the area of the North Side Indio Gang, and the Indio gangs and Coachella gangs are violent rivals," the prosecutor said.
According to Tethal, the defendants are affiliated with the VCR 52 street gang.
Lares' attorney, John Patrick Dolan, told jurors that his client and the other two young men had driven from Coachella to Indio in search of a house party.
As Sambrano stopped the car to see whether he had the right address for the party, gunfire erupted, and Lares opened fire to defend himself, according to Dolan.
"They didn't plan on shooting anybody," the defense attorney said. "All they planned to do was go to a party. When they were attacked, all they wanted to do was get out of there."
Dolan said Lares was high on marijuana, had taken Ecstasy and drank beer before being driven to Indio in his silver Ford Taurus.
Daniel Torres, who is not related to the victim, will be tried separately, probably sometime this summer.
The current trial, which would include a death penalty phase if the jury finds the special circumstance allegations to be true, could last through the end of June.
All three defendants are being held without bail. They have been in custody since August 2005.
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