Gang member sentenced to death for 2007 double slaying

A 32-year-old man was sentenced to death Sept. 21 for killing two rival gang members in 2007, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.

In February, a jury found Luis Jesus Rodriguez, who is Latino, guilty of two counts of first-degree murder for fatally shooting two men — Benjamin Velasco, 19, and Julio Ramirez, 21 — outside a family gathering in Paramount.

Jurors also found true allegations that the killings were committed to further the activities of a criminal street gang and that Rodriguez had been previously convicted of first-degree murder.

Rodriguez’s brother Daniel Cowie was convicted in 2009 and sentenced in 2010 to 40 years to life in prison for driving the getaway vehicle.

Irvin Heredia, who was a passenger in the car, pleaded guilty and was sentenced for manslaughter in 2009. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

On July 28, 2007, Rodriguez, a documented Paramount Barrio gang member, armed himself with an AK-47 and had Cowie drive him and Heredia in a white pickup truck to the neighborhood of a rival gang, authorities said.

Rodriguez stopped outside a home where Velasco and Ramirez were attending a family gathering. Rodriguez got out of the car, and began shooting. He shot Velasco first, in front of family and friends, then turned around and shot Ramirez as he tried to run away, authorities said.

Rodriguez then got back in the truck and it fled. Velasco and Ramirez were taken to the hospital where both died the next day.

On July 31, 2007,  authorities arrested Rodriguez  in connection with the fatal shooting of Salvador Avila Jr., 19. On June 24, 2007, Avila was shot while trying to help a friend who was in a fight at a Tam’s restaurant. Avila, who was also known as Salvador Deavila, was killed about half a mile from the double shooting.

Rodriguez was convicted of Avila’s killing in 2008 and sentenced to 50 years to life in state prison.

Contact the Homicide Report. And follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.