A San Francisco jury convicted an Oakland man Tuesday of second-degree murder in a Dec. 6, 2005 fatal shooting that took place in San Francisco’s Mission District, according to the district attorney’s office.
Luis Nelson Barrera was accused of repeatedly shooting Robert Mariano, of San Francisco, who was 21 years old at the time of the attack.
According to evidence presented at the trial, Mariano was shot by Barrera, a Sureno gang member, as Mariano yelled at Barrera’s girlfriend about the dangers of bringing gang members to the area.
The shooting took place in the 1300 block of Hampshire Street, which falls within a zone created in 2007 to reduce gang activity by the Norteno gang in the Mission District.
At the time of the killing, police suspected the two men knew each other. Homicide inspectors developed leads that led them to Los Angeles, where Barrera was arrested on Jan. 26, 2006.
The jury found Barrera guilty of second-degree murder, of carrying a concealed firearm and of carrying a loaded firearm, the district attorney’s office announced today.
The jury also found true the allegation that Barrera personally and intentionally discharged a firearm causing great bodily harm or death, the district attorney’s office said.
“The defendant’s vicious actions not only took the life of the victim but also destroyed the lives of his family and shattered the community,” District Attorney George Gascon said in a statement today.
Barrera could face 40 years to life in prison when he is scheduled to be sentenced next month.
The sentencing is scheduled to take place at 9 a.m. on April 6.
Patricia Decker, Bay City News
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