21-year-old sentenced to life for two killings

A 21-year-old black man was sentenced Dec. 5 to life in state prison without the possibility of parole for two homicides in 2011, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

In September jurors found Davion McClelland guilty of two counts each of first-degree murder and attempted murder in the death of Joshua Montes. The jury also found true gun and gang allegations as well as the special circumstance of multiple murders, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Russell Moore.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Curtis Rappe also ordered McClelland to pay more than $11,000 in restitution, Moore said.

Joshua Montes, a 22-month-old Latino, was shot and killed May 23, 2011 in the 1200 block of East 55th Street in Central-Alameda, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Joshua and his uncle, Josafat Canchola, were shot outside the family home when bullets intended for two members of rival gang missed and a single bullet struck them both in the head.

Paramedics transported them to a hospital, where Joshua died. Canchola, a 46-year-old Latino, who was holding his nephew when they were shot, died two days later, according to district attorney and coroner’s records.

-- Maloy Moore