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Two gang members charged with killing Pomona father

Two young gang members have been charged with murder in connection with shooting a 37-year-old Pomona man last month as he was leaving a fast-food restaurant.

Victor Alcider Quintanilla was in his car preparing to drive out of the parking lot at 1701 South Garey Ave. on Feb. 3, when two men fired several gunshots into his vehicle, according to a news release from the Pomona Police Department.

The men then fled in a 2015 gray Honda Civic, police said.

Quintanilla, who had just picked up food for his family, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators learned that moments earlier, three other young men had been shot at a few blocks away. Two were struck by gunfire, but they survived, according to a department news release.

Investigators were able to quickly identify the suspects as documented members of a local gang, according to the news release. 

Johnny Frank Urena, also known as Johnny Francisco Urena, 18, and Juan Ricardo Morales, also known as Juan Ricardo Morales Avila, 24, were charged on Feb. 17 with murder, two counts of attempted murder, using a handgun to cause great bodily injury and death, shooting at an occupied vehicle and acting in association with a criminal street gang, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.

Morales also was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to prosecutors.

The two men are accused of randomly targeting people as part of gang-inspired violence, according to the police news release. None of the victims were gang members or involved in gang activity, investigators said. 

Urena and Morales, both Latinos, are each being held in lieu of $9 million bail. They are scheduled to be arraigned March 16 in Department N of the Los Angeles County Superior Court Pomona Courthouse. 

The case is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Pomona Police Department at (909) 620-2095. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. 

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.

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