A judge today sentenced a man to 43 years to life in prison for the 2008 fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy in San Francisco’s Western Addition neighborhood.
Ronnie Louvier, 24, was convicted San Francisco Superior Court in October of second-degree murder for shooting Marquise Washington in the 800 block of Turk Street on March 20, 2008.
Police and prosecutors said Louvier, who goes by the nickname “Ron Ruger,” was acting as a member of 800 Block, one of several gangs in the area, and that Washington, known as “Snaks,” was a member of a rival gang, Eddy Rock. However, jurors acquitted Louvier of gang charges.
Washington was shot in a drive-by while walking with a friend.
A witness recorded the license plate of the car used in the killing, which led police to Louvier.
Louvier’s DNA was found on the murder weapon, a gun found stashed in a secret compartment of his car, and gunshot residue was on his hands, according to prosecutors.
Louvier claimed at trial that another man, also an alleged gang member, committed the murder.
Washington’s mother tearfully told Louvier in court this afternoon that the killing of her son was a “cold-blooded murder.”
“He was a young man of smiles and jokes,” she said, adding that Washington was “charismatic, headstrong and loving,” and was loved by his family.
“And now that you know what he has meant to us, you can serve the rest of your life in prison,” she said.
Louvier later rose and addressed Washington’s mother, telling her that he could sympathize with her because of a killing of one of his own relatives.
“I didn’t do it, but the judicial system said I did,” Louvier said.
Judge Donald Mitchell sentenced Louvier to 15 years to life for second-degree murder and another 25 years to life for the use of a firearm allegation, plus three years for possession of crack cocaine with a firearm.
