Armstrong

A jury convicted defendant Craigen Lewis Armstrong of numerous crimes stemming from three separate, but interrelated, incidents. Specifically, the jury found defendant guilty of the 2001 first degree murders of Christopher Florence and his two older brothers, Michael Florence and Torry Florence (Pen. Code, § 187, subd. (a)), and it found true the multiple-murder special-circumstance allegations associated with those counts (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(3)). The jury also found true the special circumstance allegations (1) that Christopher’s murder was committed while defendant was an active participant in a criminal street gang and was carried out to further the gang’s activities, and (2) that the murders of Michael and Torry were committed by means of discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle. (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(21), (22).) In connection with the three hrst degree murders, the jury also found that defendant intentionally discharged a firearm causing death, for purposes of sentence enhancement pursuant to former section 12022.53, subdivisions (b), (c), and (d).

Defendant was further convicted of the premeditated attempted murders of Christopher’s younger brother Brian Florence…