Man sentenced for killing maintenance worker in Target parking lot
A man was sentenced June 8 to 50 years to life in state prison for the early-morning murder of a maintenance worker cleaning a parking lot in Van Nuys, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
On Nov. 7, 2016, jurors found Erick Renteria, 27, guilty of first-degree murder for killing Francisco Miguel Tomas, 48, as well as a count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Jurors also found true the special allegation Renteria used a knife to commit the crime.
Miguel Tomas was power-washing a Target parking lot with two other workers at about 5 a.m. on July 22, 2014, according to prosecutors. While the men were working, Renteria approached Miguel Tomas and stabbed him several times, prosecutors said.
Co-workers and other witnesses tried to help, but Renteria, who appeared “bizarre” and “intoxicated,” continued to stab Miguel Thomas, according to LAPD Capt. Ivan Minsal. At some point during the assault, Miguel Tomas was also shot.
Van Nuys police responded to the scene and Miguel Thomas was transported to a local hospital. He died at 6 a.m., according to coroner’s records. Renteria was arrested that morning.
Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @jeromercampbell and @latimeshomicide on Twitter.
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