Three men sentenced in 2013 Compton shooting

Three men have been sentenced in the 2013 Compton shooting death of Raul Rodriguez, a 23-year-old Latino.

On Dec. 15, Smith Fernando Garcia, a 23-year-old Latino, was sentenced to 132 years to life in state prison for one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. A jury also found true gun and gang allegations.

Michael Llamas Gallardo, 33 and Angel Jesus Gallardo, 24, who are both Latino and are not related, were given concurrent 15-year sentences after being convicted of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. A jury also found true gang allegations for both men.

A mistrial was declared in the case against a fourth man, Felipe Ramos, 31. He is due to return to court Jan. 20.

About 2:40 p.m. on Nov. 8, 2013, Raul Rodriguez and two other men went to a scrap metal recycling center in the 2100 block of North Alameda Street in Compton, said L.A. County sheriff’s Sgt. Kenneth Perry. There, four men, members of the Compton Varrio Largo 36 gang, recognized Rodriguez’s Lynwood Varrio Paragons gang tattoos.

When Rodriguez and his companions left the recycling center in a Toyota Rav4, a Ford Explorer driven by Michael Gallardo followed; inside were Garcia and Ramos, police said.

Rodriguez, who was driving, was stopped behind a truck at the intersection of Alameda Street and El Segundo Boulevard when the Explorer pulled alongside. Garcia opened fire, striking all three men in the Rav4, Perry said.

Rodriguez crashed into the truck in front of him, then went through the intersection and crashed into a business on the corner, Perry said. Rodriguez was pronounced dead at 3:21 p.m. at the scene, according to coroner’s records. The other two men were taken to hospitals where they recovered.

After the shooting, Michael Gallardo drove to meet up with a waiting Angel Gallardo. Garcia then changed vehicles, Perry said.

Perry said investigators used surveillance video from the recycling center and another business to identify Michael Gallardo’s vehicle. Ramos also used an ID to make a transaction at the recycling center.

In December 2013, Manhattan Beach police arrested Garcia and Angel Gallardo on suspicion of car theft. Officers recovered a gun that matched the weapon from the Rodriguez shooting, Perry said. Angel Gallardo later told police how he and the other three men were involved in the shooting, Perry added. Angel Gallardo did not testify in the trial, according to the L.A. County district attorney's office.

Michael Gallardo and Ramos were arrested in July 2014.

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