People v. Hamilton CA2/6

FACTS

Because this matter has previously come before this court, a brief statement of facts will be sufficient. The Black P Stones gang is a “Bloods” gang. The Rollin 30’s gang (also known as the Harlem 30’s) is a “Crips” gang. The gangs are rivals. Hamilton is a member of the Black P Stones gang. Wassan Flores (the victim) is an associate of the Rollin 30’s gang. In 2011, Hamilton was dating Rondalyn Johnson. Flores was a friend of Johnson. Flores lived in an apartment in Black P Stones gang territory with his mother and sister. In February 2011, Hamilton and another man came to the apartment door, and Hamilton asked Flores if he was “from Harlem.” When a security guard appeared, Hamilton and the other man left. Flores felt disrespected. A couple of days later, Flores saw Hamilton on the street and challenged him to a fight. Hamilton ran away. Flores relayed this information to Johnson.

2 One night about two weeks later, Johnson and Flores spent the evening together at Flores’s apartment. Flores’s mother was at work and his sister was asleep. Johnson unlocked the sliding door when Flores was not looking. When Johnson left, Hamilton and two masked men entered through the sliding…