Three men sentenced in murder of man who came to his grandfather's aid

Three Latino men were sentenced June 23 to state prison for a 2012 murder in Sun Valley, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Evin Adonis Ortiz, 25, Rene Ubaldo Ramirez, 32, and Edwin Alexander Bonilla 30, were sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the killing of Danilo Estuardo Morales.

Ramirez was given an additional sentence of 25 years to life for firing the gun that killed Morales, prosecutors said.

Additionally, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Greg Dohi gave each defendant a life sentence for the attempted murder of Manuel Flores, 70, the victim’s grandfather.

On Nov. 1, 2013, the three defendants were found guilty of the special circumstance murder of Morales and the attempted murder and second-degree robbery of Flores.

Morales, a 24-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Jan. 9, 2012, in the 8100 block of Coldwater Canyon Boulevard in Sun Valley, according Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Morales was gunned down while attempting to help his grandfather, who was robbed outside his home about 6:45 p.m.

The robbers demanded that Flores hand over his possessions and jewelry. As he tried to take off a bracelet, he yelled, "They're robbing me!" and dived to the ground. One of the robbers fired his gun.

Hearing the gunfire, Morales ran from the house and chased after the robbers who had fled in a white SUV. The men opened fire and Morales was struck in the head.

Morales was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:59 p.m. Flores was not injured.

Ortiz and Ramirez were arrested several days after the murder. Bonilla was arrested the following month.

-- Maloy Moore