Gang member sentenced to 100 years to life in 2012 killing of church deacon
A gang member was sentenced this month to 100 years to life in prison for killing a 25-year-old deacon outside a church in Westlake, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Pedro Martinez, a 26-year-old Latino, was sentenced March 13, according to prosecutors. Martinez was convicted in December of one count of first-degree murder in the shooting of Andres Ordonez, who was trying to stop a woman from vandalizing a church.
Martinez was also convicted of attempted murder and felony vandalism. A jury also found gang and gun allegations true.
On Nov. 4, 2012, Janeth Lopez, a 24-year-old Latina gang member, was allegedly spray painting the walls of Iglesia de Paz church when Ordonez and a parishioner came outside, according to prosecutors.
Martinez stepped out of a nearby vehicle and opened fire, killing Ordonez and wounding the churchgoer. Lopez and Martinez fled the scene in the waiting vehicle.
Lopez and Ivy Navarrete, 33, have each been charged with one count each of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of vandalism. The two are awaiting trial, prosecutors said.
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