By Jorge Casuso
March 5 – A Los Angeles jury on Wednesday convicted two gang members of murder in the gruesome slayings of two Santa Monicans gunned down at a party at the local Moose Lodge three years ago.
Jose Mojarro and Erick Nunez, both 24 years old, were convicted of first-degree murder with special circumstances for using a firearm during a gang crime. They were also convicted of a third count of assault with a deadly weapon.
The two men could face life in prison without chance of parole when they are sentenced on March 20.
The two Los Angeles gang members were found guilty of gunning down Hector Bonilla and Jonathan Hernandez during a private birthday party at the Moose Lodge at 1600 Ocean Park Boulevard on the night of March 5, 2005. A third man sustained injuries after being shot in the leg by the spray of bullets. (“Coroner’s Report Details ‘Gang’ Slayings,” March 29, 2005)
Hernandez, a 19-year-old resident of Ocean Park was shot 17 times -- twice to the head and numerous times to the shoulder, back and upper and lower body -- by gunmen the two gunmen.
Bonilla, a 25-year-old resident of the Pico Neighborhood, was shot eight times, twice to the head, as he ran to Bonilla’s aid.
The shooting occurred when an argument broke out during a private party at the lodge in 2005.
A third defendant -- William Vasquez, a 28-year-old Hispanic known as “Crook” -- is awaiting trial.
Mojaro’s defense argued that the four eyewitnesses who testified to having seen the suspect shoot Hernandez were highly unreliable.
The attorney for Nunez argued the key witness changed his story several times.
